New Jersey Time to Care Coalition recommends strengthening coronavirus legislation, expanding NJ Earned Sick and Safe Day Law

The New Jersey Time to Care coalition today sent a letter to the New Jersey State Legislature’s leadership recommending changes that would strengthen proposed legislation to shore up income for workers and their families during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as expanding the state’s Earned Sick and Safe Day Law. The letter praised the Legislature for their “quick and decisive actions to protect and support the people of this state facing the unprecedented threat of the coronavirus” but noted that some changes were needed to both proposed and existing laws to ensure that all workers, and most importantly low-income workers, have the support they need to weather a crisis of this magnitude.

“Many workers have already been laid off, or are temporarily unable to work as businesses and schools close and employees have to care for their children or other loved ones at home,” said Yarrow Willman-Cole, New Jersey Citizen Action Workplace Justice Director and co-convener of the NJ Time to Care Coalition. “Without sufficient support for all New Jerseyans, especially our most vulnerable workers, we will face an economic catastrophe in addition to the faster growth of this pandemic. The resulting economic crisis will severely hamper New Jersey’s ability to beat the coronavirus and recover from the health crisis. We appreciate the immense work put in by legislators and their staff on such short notice, but ask that we make additional policy changes to ensure all workers are supported and protected. We can’t beat this health crisis unless we include all New Jerseyans in our protective measures.”

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The New Jersey Time to Care (TTC) Coalition works to promote equitable access to earned sick and safe days and paid family & medical leave. We advocate for paid leave and other policies that support working families and their ability to care for themselves and their loved ones.