If your employer is making it difficult for you to take family leave or has retaliated against you for doing so, NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC can help.
We focus exclusively on protecting employee rights under the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA). Our attorneys assist workers in Egg Harbor Township and throughout New Jersey who have been denied legally protected leave or suffered consequences for requesting it. During a consultation, you’ll speak directly with an experienced employment attorney who will review your case, explain your rights, and outline the legal remedies available to you.
Your Legal Protections Under the NJFLA
The NJFLA requires employers with 50 or more employees worldwide to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave every 24 months. This leave can be used to care for a family member with a serious medical condition or to bond with a new child through birth or adoption.
Key requirements to qualify:
- You must have worked at least 12 months for your employer.
- You must have logged at least 1,000 hours in the past 12 months.
- The employer must have 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius.
Employers are required to:
- Continue your group health benefits during the leave.
- Restore you to your original job or a similar position upon return.
- Accept notice given 30 days in advance for childbirth or adoption, or 15 days for family care. Emergencies may justify shorter notice.
Employers may request medical documentation but are strictly prohibited from retaliating against employees who take leave under NJFLA. Any form of discipline, termination, demotion, or denial of benefits in response to a leave request may be a violation of state law.
Take Legal Action to Protect Your Job and Benefits
If your NJFLA rights were violated in Egg Harbor Township, our legal team will work to recover compensation, secure job reinstatement, or pursue other legal action. NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC has deep experience holding employers accountable under New Jersey leave laws.
Qualifying Reasons for Family Leave Under the NJFLA
Under the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA), eligible employees may take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave within a 24-month period for certain family-related needs. These include:
- Bonding with a newborn, adopted child, or foster child within the first year of birth or placement.
- Providing care for a family member with a serious health condition. The law defines “family member” broadly to include:
- Spouses and domestic partners
- Children, parents, and in-laws
- Siblings, grandparents, grandchildren
- Blood relatives or those with a close, family-like relationship
- Responding to a public health emergency, such as:
- Assisting a family member during an epidemic
- Caring for a child whose school or daycare is closed due to a communicable disease
Important Distinction: NJFLA does not allow leave for an employee’s own medical condition. That type of leave is instead covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
If you live or work in Egg Harbor Township and are unsure about your eligibility or your employer’s obligations, NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC can explain your rights under the NJFLA and help enforce them.
Common Violations of the NJFLA by Employers
Employers often fail to comply with NJFLA requirements. Common violations include:
- Denying leave to a father who requests bonding time with a newborn.
- Demoting or reassigning employees after returning from leave, particularly women.
- Using leave as a negative factor in performance reviews or disciplinary actions.
- Misapplying federal FMLA and state NJFLA leave by running them at the same time. Employees may be entitled to both, taken consecutively, not concurrently.
If your employer counted your family leave against you or refused to grant it without legal cause, they may be in violation of state law.
NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC helps workers in Egg Harbor Township hold employers accountable when they violate the NJFLA. Our team focuses exclusively on employment law and will guide you through every step to ensure your rights are upheld.
How NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC Can Help
If your employer retaliated against you for using protected family leave—such as firing you, cutting your hours, or changing your job responsibilities—you may have grounds to file a legal claim under the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA).
Our attorneys pursue full compensation for clients in Egg Harbor Township, including:
- Back pay for lost wages and benefits
- Front pay if reinstatement isn’t possible
- Emotional distress damages due to wrongful termination or retaliation
- Punitive damages when employer conduct is especially harmful or intentional
- Attorney’s fees and court costs, which may be recoverable under state law
Employers that violate the NJFLA can be held accountable in court. Taking legal action can result not only in financial recovery but also send a strong message that unlawful practices won’t be tolerated.
Speak With a Family Leave Attorney Serving Egg Harbor Township
NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC represents employees throughout New Jersey who have been denied protected leave or punished for taking it. If you live or work in Egg Harbor Township and believe your NJFLA rights were violated, contact our firm. An experienced employment attorney will evaluate your situation and outline your legal options.