Employees in Galloway Township, NJ have legal rights under both the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA). These laws ensure job protection and health insurance coverage when you take time off for qualifying family or medical reasons. If your employer interferes with this right or retaliates against you for using it, you may be entitled to legal remedies.
NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC helps workers across New Jersey, including those in Galloway Township, who are denied protected leave or penalized for exercising their rights. Whether you’re recovering from childbirth, bonding with a new child, or caring for a seriously ill family member, these laws are designed to secure your employment while you attend to critical personal matters.
Common Violations by Employers
Employers sometimes break the law by:
- Denying time off that qualifies under FMLA or NJFLA
- Misclassifying leave as unexcused
- Requiring employees to perform work during leave
- Failing to notify employees of their rights
- Retaliating with termination, demotion, or other penalties
These actions are not only unfair—they may be illegal under state and federal law.
Who Is Covered and What Leave You Can Take
FMLA Coverage and Benefits
Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period. Group health benefits must be maintained during this time. FMLA covers:
- Your own serious health condition
- Childbirth and newborn care
- Adoption or foster care placement
- Caring for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious medical condition
To qualify, you must:
- Have worked for the employer for at least 12 months
- Have completed at least 1,250 hours of work in the past year
- Work for a company with at least 50 employees within 75 miles
NJFLA Coverage and Benefits
New Jersey’s Family Leave Act provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a 24-month period, but only for family caregiving—not your own health condition. Covered reasons include:
- Bonding with a newborn, adopted, or foster child
- Caring for a seriously ill spouse, child, parent, domestic partner, or civil union partner
Eligibility requirements:
- 12 months of employment with the company
- At least 1,000 hours worked in the last 12 months
- Employer has 50+ employees worldwide
Legal Support for Galloway Township Workers
If your employer violates your FMLA or NJFLA rights, NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC can help. Our attorneys will evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and take action to hold your employer accountable. Whether it’s negotiating reinstatement, seeking back pay, or pursuing a lawsuit, we work to protect your rights every step of the way.
Legal Help for FMLA and NJFLA Violations in Galloway Township
If your employer denies legally protected leave or retaliates against you for using it, you may have grounds for a claim. NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC works with employees in Galloway Township to challenge violations under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA). Our attorneys assess your eligibility, investigate your employer’s actions, and pursue legal remedies that may include reinstatement, back pay, or damages.
Common FMLA Leave Rights
Under the FMLA, eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per 12-month period while maintaining job protection and health coverage. Leave may be taken for:
- Childbirth and care of a newborn
- Adoption or foster care placement
- A serious personal health condition
- Caring for a spouse, parent, or child with a serious health condition
- Specific needs related to a family member’s active military service
Employers must comply if the request meets the law’s criteria. Denying or interfering with this right is a violation.
NJFLA Protections
The NJFLA provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a 24-month period. Unlike FMLA, it does not apply to your own health condition. Covered reasons include:
- Caring for a child, spouse, parent, or domestic/civil union partner with a serious medical condition
- Bonding time with a new child through birth, adoption, or foster placement
Employees in Galloway Township are eligible if they have:
- Worked at least 1,000 hours in the last 12 months
- Been employed for 12 months or more
- An employer with at least 50 workers worldwide
FMLA vs. NJFLA – What to Know
These laws overlap but differ in scope:
- FMLA covers personal medical leave; NJFLA does not
- NJFLA applies to more family relationships (e.g., in-laws)
- Both protect your job, but only if you meet strict eligibility rules
Choosing the correct law depends on your situation. If you’ve been denied leave or punished for requesting time off, our attorneys can determine which law applies and take action.
What Qualifies as a Serious Health Condition?
Not every health issue qualifies. Under both laws, conditions must be significant enough to:
- Require inpatient care or ongoing treatment
- Prevent you from performing essential job duties
- Necessitate care for a covered family member
If your employer misclassifies your condition, denies your leave, or retaliates against you, they may be in violation of state or federal law.
Medical Conditions That May Qualify for Protected Leave
Under the FMLA and NJFLA, employees in Galloway Township may be entitled to job-protected leave if they or a qualifying family member are dealing with a serious health condition. Common examples include:
- Inpatient care at a hospital, hospice, or residential medical facility
- Incapacity lasting more than three days that requires ongoing treatment
- Pregnancy-related leave, including prenatal visits, complications, and recovery from childbirth
- Chronic health conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, or asthma requiring periodic medical visits
- Long-term or permanent conditions like Alzheimer’s or cancer that require medical supervision
- Multiple treatments (e.g., chemotherapy, physical therapy, surgery) that prevent the employee from working
Employers can require a certification from a healthcare provider to support your leave request, but they may not demand full medical records or penalize you for requesting protected leave.
Employer Retaliation for Taking Leave
If your employer takes adverse action because you used or requested protected leave, you may have a legal claim. Retaliation is prohibited under both federal and New Jersey law.
Common violations include:
- Refusing to approve leave despite meeting eligibility requirements
- Terminating, demoting, or disciplining you after your return
- Cutting off health insurance benefits during the leave period
- Threatening job loss to prevent you from using your leave rights
These actions can be challenged through legal action. You may be entitled to reinstatement, back pay, lost benefits, and other damages.
Legal Representation for FMLA and NJFLA Violations in Galloway Township
NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC represents employees in Galloway Township facing leave-related violations. We review your employment records, leave history, and any communications with your employer to determine if your rights were violated. If your case qualifies, we’ll work to resolve the matter—through negotiation when possible or litigation when necessary.
Talk to an Employment Lawyer About Leave Rights
If you’ve been denied protected leave, retaliated against for using it, or had benefits withheld while on leave, speak with an attorney. NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC works with employees across New Jersey, including Galloway Township, to enforce FMLA and NJFLA protections.
Let us help you pursue the compensation and accountability you’re entitled to under the law.