No worker should be forced to choose between their health and a paycheck!

No worker should be forced to choose between their health and a paycheck, especially during a pandemic.In March, Congress enacted emergency paid leave tax credits for employers with under 500 workers. This means that employers are reimbursed when they pay their employees who need to take leave for reasons related to COVID-19 (including getting vaccinated and recovery from side-effects).

These tax credits are one key to our recovery! Although it may seem like we are on the other side of COVID-19, many workers (especially in our most vulnerable communities) are not yet vaccinated and without paid time off, these same essential workers who risked their lives for our comfort for over the past year, cannot afford to take off work for vaccination, to recover or care for a loved one with post-vaccine side effects – or if they get COVID-19.

But no employer is obligated to provide this extended COVID-19 related paid leave. That’s right-  these tax credits are completely optional and they expire in September!

We have a solution, but we must act now! 

S-3827 which was introduced last week, would require all employers to temporarily provide NJ workers with adequate and accessible paid sick leave during the COVID-19 pandemic until the expiration of the federal paid leave tax credits. Learn more here!

Urge the Senate to act now and quickly pass S3827 and the Assembly to follow suit and enact a bill to provide temporary paid sick leave to workers during COVID-19!

We can’t wait another day to protect NJ workers. Email and tweet your elected officials now! When you’re done, check here to find their information and give them a call too!

Yarrow Willman-Cole, Workplace Justice Program Director
New Jersey Citizen Action