{"id":122445,"date":"2023-12-14T12:43:50","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T10:43:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/?p=122445"},"modified":"2026-09-06T11:40:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T09:40:15","slug":"family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-new-jersey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-new-jersey\/","title":{"rendered":"Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) New Jersey: How Does It Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>FMLA in New Jersey can involve several different programs, and they do not all provide the same protections or benefits. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) can provide eligible employees with job-protected leave, while New Jersey Family Leave Insurance (FLI) and Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) may provide partial wage replacement when specific requirements are met.<\/p>\n<p>This guide explains who may qualify for each program, what types of leave may be job-protected, when paid benefits may be available, and how the rules work together. It also covers important changes to New Jersey leave and benefit rules that took effect in 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Key Facts<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>FMLA New Jersey means federal job-protected leave applies alongside separate New Jersey leave and wage-replacement programs.<\/li>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/whd\/fmla\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Department of Labor says<\/a> eligible FMLA employees may take up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave when they meet the 12-month, 1,250-hour, and 50-employee eligibility rules.<\/li>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.gov\/labor\/lwdhome\/press\/2026\/20260715_moreprotections.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Jersey Department of Labor says NJFLA<\/a> eligibility changed on July 17, 2026, reducing the covered-employer threshold from 30 to 15 employees and the hours-worked requirement from 1,000 to 250 hours.<\/li>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.gov\/labor\/myleavebenefits\/worker\/maternity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Jersey Department of Labor says<\/a> 2026 Family Leave Insurance can replace 85% of average weekly wages, capped at $1,119 per week.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#WhatisFamilyandMedicalLeaveActFMLANewJersey\" rel=\"noopener\">What is Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) New Jersey?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#FMLAEligibilityCriteriainNewJersey\" rel=\"noopener\">FMLA: Eligibility Criteria in New Jersey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#QualifyingReasonsundertheFMLAinNewJersey\" rel=\"noopener\">Qualifying Reasons under the FMLA in New Jersey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#DurationandTypesofFamilyandMedicalLeavesinNewJersey\" rel=\"noopener\">Duration and Types of Family and Medical Leaves in New Jersey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#EmployeeRightsandEmployerObligationsUndertheFMLALeave\" rel=\"noopener\">Employee Rights and Employer Obligations Under the FMLA Leave<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#HowToRequestFMLALeaveinNewJersey\" rel=\"noopener\">How To Request FMLA Leave in New Jersey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#FederalvsStateSpecificsinNewJerseyComparisonofFMLAandNewJerseystatelaws\" rel=\"noopener\">Federal vs. State Specifics in New Jersey: Comparison of FMLA and New Jersey state laws<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ResourcesaboutFMLAinNewJersey\" rel=\"noopener\">Resources about FMLA in New Jersey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#FAQAboutFamilyAndMedicalLeaveinNewJersey\" rel=\"noopener\">FAQ About Family And Medical Leave in New Jersey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/holidays-leaves-software\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Effortlessly Track Employee Time Off With This HR Software \u2705<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?<\/h2>\n<p>Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted in 1993 as a way to assist workers facing health crises in taking a period of leave. Particularly without fear of losing their jobs, while they focus on their health.<\/p>\n<p>FMLA allows eligible employees to take up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period while maintaining group health insurance. The U.S. Department of Labor states that covered employers include public agencies, public and private elementary and secondary schools, and private-sector employers with 50 or more employees in 20 or more workweeks in the current or previous calendar year.<\/p>\n<h2>FMLA: Eligibility Criteria in New Jersey<\/h2>\n<p>In New Jersey, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) sets specific criteria to determine who is covered under its provisions.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/14113705\/eligibility-criteria-fmla-New-Jersey.png\" alt=\"eligibility criteria fmla New Jersey\" width=\"880\" height=\"560\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Employer Eligibility:<\/strong>\u00a0FMLA applies to private-sector employers with 50 or more employees in 20 or more workweeks in the current or preceding calendar year. It also covers public agencies and public or private elementary and secondary schools regardless of headcount, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Employee Eligibility:<\/strong>\u00a0To be eligible for FMLA leave, an employee must have worked for a covered employer for at least 12 months, worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months before leave starts, and worked at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Qualifying Reasons under the FMLA in New Jersey<\/h2>\n<p>Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in New Jersey, employees are entitled to take leave for several significant reasons:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/14113747\/qualifying-reasons-fmla-new-jersey.png\" alt=\"qualifying reasons fmla new jersey\" width=\"813\" height=\"521\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Personal serious health condition:<\/strong>\u00a0FMLA may cover leave for an employee&#8217;s own serious health condition, including pregnancy or childbirth recovery, when federal eligibility rules are met.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Family Member&#8217;s Serious Health Conditions:<\/strong>\u00a0 This includes to care for a spouse, child, or parent suffering from a serious health condition.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Birth, Adoption, or Build Care Placement of a Child:<\/strong>\u00a0FMLA allows parents to take leave for the birth of a child, as well as for the adoption or build care placement of a child, providing time for bonding and care.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Military-Related Exigencies and Caregiver Leave:<\/strong>\u00a0Employees may take leave for reasons related to a family member&#8217;s military service, including exigencies arising from a family member&#8217;s deployment. FMLA also provides for a longer leave (up to 26 weeks) to care for a family member who is a service member with a serious injury or illness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Duration and Types of Family and Medical Leaves in New Jersey<\/h2>\n<p>New Jersey employees may be entitled to different types of family and medical leave, depending on the law that applies and the reason for the leave. The amount of time available can also vary based on eligibility and the type of leave being taken.<\/p>\n<p>The section below focuses specifically on the duration of leave available under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).<\/p>\n<h3>Duration of leaves under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Maximum Duration of FMLA Leave:<\/strong>\u00a0Employees are entitled to a maximum of 12 weeks of unpaid leave within a 12-month period. In the case of military caregiver leave, this duration extends to 26 weeks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Do not confuse FMLA duration with New Jersey wage-replacement benefits. The New Jersey Department of Labor says Family Leave Insurance can be paid for up to 12 consecutive weeks in a 12-month period, or up to 8 weeks, equal to 56 individual days, when leave is taken intermittently.<\/p>\n<h3>Types of Family and Medical Leaves in New Jersey<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Continuous Leave:<\/strong>\u00a0This involves taking a continuous, uninterrupted leave period.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Intermittent Leave:<\/strong>\u00a0This type of leave allows employees to take FMLA leave in separate blocks of time due to a single qualifying reason.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reduced Schedule Leave:<\/strong>\u00a0This allows an employee to reduce their working hours, either daily or weekly, for a period of time due to a qualifying reason.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For leave administration, HR should track the legal basis separately: federal FMLA, NJFLA, TDI, FLI, employer PTO, or paid sick leave. A leave management system such as <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/holidays-leaves-software\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Factorial&#8217;s holidays and leave software<\/a> can help record leave categories, supporting documentation, approval dates, and remaining balances without mixing unpaid job protection with paid benefits.<\/p>\n<h2>Employee Rights and Employer Obligations Under the FMLA Leave<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/14114038\/rights-fmla-new-jersey-1.png\" alt=\"rights fmla new jersey\" width=\"837\" height=\"536\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Job Security<\/h3>\n<p>Employees are guaranteed the right to return to the same or an equivalent position.<\/p>\n<p>This protection ensures job security, even after an extended period away for qualifying reasons.<\/p>\n<h3>Health Insurance Maintenance<\/h3>\n<p>Employers must maintain the employee&#8217;s health insurance under the same terms and conditions as if they had not taken leave.<\/p>\n<p>Employees continue to be responsible for their portion of health insurance premiums.<\/p>\n<h3>Protection of Employee Benefits<\/h3>\n<p>Employee&#8217;s benefits are maintained as if the worker is actively working.<\/p>\n<h3>Employer&#8217;s Role in Granting Leave and Maintaining Compliance<\/h3>\n<p>Employers are required to grant leave to eligible employees for qualifying reasons under the FMLA.<\/p>\n<p>They must also keep accurate records and comply with all aspects of the FMLA, including not interfering with, restraining, or denying the exercise of FMLA rights.<\/p>\n<p>Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees for taking FMLA leave.<\/p>\n<h2>How To Request FMLA Leave in New Jersey<\/h2>\n<p>Requesting FMLA leave in New Jersey involves a few important steps. Employees should understand when and how to notify their employer and provide any required information or documentation. The process may vary depending on the reason for the leave and whether it is planned or unexpected.<\/p>\n<p>The steps below explain how employees can request FMLA leave and what to expect during the process.<\/p>\n<h3>Step-by-Step Guide on How Employees Can Request FMLA Leave<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Determine Eligibility:<\/strong>\u00a0You must work at a location with 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius and be employed for at least 12 months by a covered employer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Understand the Reason for Leave:<\/strong>\u00a0Determine your FMLA qualifying reason, such as personal health issues, family member care, birth or adoption of a child, or military exigencies.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Notify Your Employer:<\/strong>\u00a0Notify your employer in writing or verbally of your need for FMLA leave. While immediate notice is not always possible, FMLA generally requires 30 days&#8217; advance notice.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Submit Required Forms and Documentation:<\/strong>\u00a0Complete any FMLA leave request forms provided by your employer. Provide medical certification or other required documentation to support your leave request, such as a doctor&#8217;s note or military orders, if applicable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Await Employer Response:<\/strong>\u00a0After submitting your request, your employer must generally provide an eligibility notice within five business days, and the notice must state at least one reason if the employee is not eligible, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coordinate Leave Details:<\/strong>\u00a0Discuss with your employer the specifics of your leave, such as the start date, duration, and any potential need for intermittent leave or a reduced schedule.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Understand Your Rights and Responsibilities:<\/strong>\u00a0Review the rights and responsibilities under FMLA, including job protection, health insurance continuation, and any obligations you have during your leave.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>Documentation and Notice Requirements<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Medical Certification:<\/strong>\u00a0If you need leave due to serious medical conditions (personal or family), provide a medical certificate. The certification should include the date the condition began, its expected duration, and relevant medical facts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Advance Notice:<\/strong>\u00a0In case of foreseeable leave, such as childbirth or planned medical treatment, provide at least 30 days&#8217; notice.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Periodic Updates:<\/strong>\u00a0Keep your employer informed about your status and intent to return to work, especially if the leave duration changes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fitness-for-Duty Certification:<\/strong>\u00a0Provide a fitness-for-duty certification before returning from leave only if the employer has a uniformly applied policy or practice requiring it for similarly situated employees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Federal vs State Specifics: Comparison of FMLA and New Jersey State Law<\/h2>\n<p>Employees in New Jersey may have more than one leave right at the same time. New Jersey Family Leave Insurance (FLI) is a <strong>partial wage-replacement program<\/strong>, while FMLA and NJFLA are job-protection laws. Since July 17, 2026, the New Jersey Department of Labor says TDI\/FLI recipients also have job protection when their leave is not already covered by NJFLA or federal FMLA.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Program<\/th>\n<th>What it provides<\/th>\n<th>Current New Jersey employer or employee threshold<\/th>\n<th>Maximum leave or benefit period<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Federal FMLA<\/td>\n<td>Unpaid, job-protected leave with group health insurance continuation<\/td>\n<td>50 employees within 75 miles for employee worksite eligibility, plus 12 months and 1,250 hours<\/td>\n<td>12 workweeks in 12 months, or 26 workweeks for military caregiver leave<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>NJFLA<\/td>\n<td>Unpaid, job-protected family-care and bonding leave<\/td>\n<td>The New Jersey Department of Labor lists 15 employees worldwide, 3 months of employment, and 250 hours worked after July 17, 2026<\/td>\n<td>12 weeks in a 24-month period<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>New Jersey FLI<\/td>\n<td>Partial wage replacement, not the same as unpaid leave entitlement<\/td>\n<td>The New Jersey Department of Labor says 2026 claimants qualify by working 20 weeks at $310 or more, or earning $15,500 in the base year<\/td>\n<td>12 consecutive weeks, or 56 intermittent days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Nature of Leave<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>FMLA<\/strong>: Provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for various reasons including personal or family health conditions, new child care, or military family needs. An extension to 26 weeks is available for care of a military member with a serious injury or illness.<\/li>\n<li><strong>New Jersey Law<\/strong>: NJFLA provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 24-month period to bond with a new child or care for a covered family member. It does not cover an employee&#8217;s own disability leave in the same way federal FMLA does, and New Jersey regulations explain that FMLA disability leave may leave the full 12-week NJFLA entitlement available for bonding or family care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Eligibility and Coverage<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>FMLA<\/strong>: Requires 12 months of employment and at least 1,250 hours of work in the previous 12 months. Applies to public agencies, schools, and private-sector employers with 50 or more employees.<\/li>\n<li><strong>New Jersey Law<\/strong>: NJFLA now applies to employers with 15 or more employees worldwide, or state and local government agencies of any size. The New Jersey Department of Labor says employees qualify after 3 months of employment and 250 hours worked in the past 12 months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Job Protection and Health Insurance<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Both<\/strong>: Offer job protection during leave. FMLA requires health insurance maintenance, while New Jersey law mandates continuation of employment benefits like health insurance, sick leave, and pensions during leave.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Discrimination and Retaliation Protections<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Both<\/strong>: Protect against discrimination or retaliation for taking leave.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Interaction Between Federal and State Laws<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>New Jersey Law and FMLA<\/strong>: There is significant overlap, but New Jersey law includes specific provisions for public-sector employees and the substitution of paid leave.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Employer compliance note:<\/strong> Business.NJ.gov states that, as of July 17, 2026, employers must comply with expanded job-protected leave requirements, including the 15-employee NJFLA threshold and the new TDI\/FLI job-protection rule when NJFLA or FMLA does not already cover the leave.<\/p>\n<h2>Resources about New Jersey<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.gov\/labor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development<\/a><\/li>\n<li>U.S. Department of Labor \u2013 FMLA<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.gov\/labor\/myleavebenefits\/worker\/job-protection-information\/more-protections.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New Jersey expanded job-protection guidance, effective July 17, 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.gov\/labor\/myleavebenefits\/worker\/fli\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New Jersey Family Leave Insurance eligibility and benefit amounts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/business.nj.gov\/updates\/employers-must-comply-with-expanded-job-protected-leave-requirements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Business.NJ.gov employer compliance update<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Here are other important <strong>New Jersey\u00a0related articles<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/new-jersey-minimum-wage\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\">New Jersey Minimum Wage Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/new-jersey-warn-act\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\">New Jersey WARN Act: HR Guide for Employers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/2024-holidays-new-jersey\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\">2024 Holidays New Jersey: Guide for Employers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/at-will-employment-by-state\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\">At Will Employment By State: HR Guide By Factorial<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/paid-sick-leave\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\">Paid Sick Leave Laws By State 2023 (New York, Texas, etc)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/pto-carry-over\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\">PTO carry over: A state-by-state guide for employers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>FMLA per State<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act California: How Does It Really Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Florida: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-texas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Texas: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-illinois\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Illinois: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/fmla-colorado\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Colorado: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/fmla-ohio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Ohio: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/fmla-massachusetts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Massachusetts: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/fmla-ny\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act NY: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/fmla-oregon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Oregon: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/fmla-michigan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Michigan: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/fmla-georgia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Georgia: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-indiana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Indiana: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-maryland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Maryland: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-missouri\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Missouri: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-nevada\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family and Medical Leave Act Nevada: How Does It Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Compliance reminder:<\/strong> Review federal FMLA, NJFLA, TDI, FLI, paid sick leave, and employer PTO policies together before approving or denying leave. New Jersey rules changed in 2026, and leave may be protected under more than one law at the same time.<\/p>\n<h2>Manage absences and time off with Factorial<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factorial-banner inline-banner banner-demo category-legal-finance\"\n    data-banner-id=\"169671\"\n    data-banner-type=\"demo\"\n    data-category=\"Legal &amp; Finance\">\n    <div class=\"banner-content\">\n        <div class=\"banner-text\">\n                            <h4>One platform for all your time &amp; attendance needs<\/h4>\n            \n                            <p>Ditch the spreadsheets and emails, manage your team&#039;s PTO, approvals, and time off in seconds with Factorial.<\/p>\n            \n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/request-demo\"\n                    class=\"factorial-cta-button not-prose demo btn-brand\" data-cta=\"demo\" data-cta-position=\"inline-banner\">\n                    Get a demo                <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-image has-image\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/18103431\/Laptop_screen-3.png\" class=\"not-prose\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Understanding FMLA, NJFLA, FLI, and TDI can help New Jersey employers manage employee leave correctly and make sure employees receive the benefits they may be entitled to. Because leave rules can be complex, keeping accurate records of time off is also important.<\/p>\n<p>Factorial can help simplify this process by giving employers tools to track employee time off, manage leave requests, and keep absence records organized in one place. This makes it easier to stay on top of employee leave while reducing administrative work. <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/request-demo\">Request a demo<\/a> to see it for yourself.<\/p>\n<h2>FAQ<\/h2>\n<h3>Do you get paid while on FMLA in NJ?<\/h3>\n<p>Federal FMLA provides unpaid leave. However, New Jersey&#8217;s Family Leave Insurance (FLI) program offers partial wage replacement for eligible employees. These are separate programs, but you may be able to receive FLI benefits while on unpaid FMLA leave.<\/p>\n<h3>How long can you stay on FMLA in New Jersey?<\/h3>\n<p>In New Jersey, eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave within a 12-month period. This can be extended to 26 weeks to care for a covered servicemember with a serious injury or illness.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the difference between FMLA and NJ Family Leave Act?<\/h3>\n<p>The main differences are in eligibility. The NJ Family Leave Act (NJFLA) covers smaller businesses (30+ employees) and has a lower work-hour requirement (1,000 hours). Federal FMLA applies to employers with 50+ employees and requires 1,250 hours worked.<\/p>\n<h3>How long does it take to get approved for FMLA in NJ?<\/h3>\n<p>After you submit your FMLA leave request, your employer must respond within five business days. They will notify you of your eligibility and inform you if any additional documentation is needed for final approval.<\/p>\n<h3>How does the family leave act work in NJ?<\/h3>\n<p>The New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave in a 24-month period. This leave can be used for bonding with a new child or caring for a family member with a serious health condition.<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Article\",\n      \"headline\": \"Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) New Jersey: How Does It Work?\",\n      \"description\": \"FMLA New Jersey guide: learn eligibility, NJFLA, paid leave, and 2026 compliance updates for employers.\",\n      \"datePublished\": \"2026-08-25\",\n      \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-25\",\n      \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n        \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-new-jersey\"\n      },\n      \"author\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"Factorial HR\",\n        \"url\": \"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\"\n      },\n      \"publisher\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"Factorial HR\",\n        \"logo\": {\n          \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n          \"url\": \"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/logo.png\"\n        }\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"Do you get paid while on FMLA in NJ?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n            \"text\": \"Federal FMLA provides unpaid leave. 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The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) can provide eligible employees with job-protected leave, while New Jersey Family Leave Insurance (FLI) and Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) may<a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-new-jersey\/\" class=\"read-more\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232,"featured_media":123433,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[146],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-122445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-legal-hr"],"acf":{"topics":"time-off"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.5 (Yoast SEO v21.9.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>FMLA New Jersey: Employer Compliance &amp; 2026 Updates<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"These are the key aspects of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in New Jersey: eligibility, reasons for leave, duration, employee rights\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-new-jersey\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) New Jersey: How Does It Work?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"These are the key aspects of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in New Jersey: eligibility, reasons for leave, duration, employee rights\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-new-jersey\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Factorial\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Factorial\/100064908455810\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-12-14T10:43:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-06T09:40:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/14124220\/fmla-new-jersey.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1188\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"708\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jose\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@factorialapp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@factorialapp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jose\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-new-jersey\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-new-jersey\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jose\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/666084ee5cae9ba044f6dcd800ab25c7\"},\"headline\":\"Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) New Jersey: How Does It Work?\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-12-14T10:43:50+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-06T09:40:15+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/family-and-medical-leave-act-fmla-new-jersey\/\"},\"wordCount\":2672,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Legal &amp; 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