NEWARK: Governor Murphy today announced during the State of the State address that his administration will be implementing a policy to pay the remainder of NJ state worker’s salary while they are on paid family leave when recovering from pregnancy/childbirth and/or bonding with new children. Family Leave Insurance benefits provide partial pay at 85% of NJ workers’ average wage up to $1,081/week in 2025. In response, New Jersey Citizen Action’s (NJCA) Workplace Justice Program Director Yarrow Willman-Cole said:

“We’re pleased Governor Murphy is focusing his attention on paid leave. The action taken by the state acknowledges the connection between paid leave and how equitable access can improve the health of birthing people and contribute to lower maternal mortality rates.

Paid leave helps prevent workers and their families from experiencing financial instability, and full pay is crucial especially for lower-income workers. Many employers, including New Jersey Citizen Action, have implemented this practice of making workers’ salaries whole while they are on leave, and we hope this move by the state leads the way for more employers to adopt a similar policy to create a fairer and healthier workforce.

As New Jersey moves forward with this expansion of benefits for state workers, we urge the Governor and Legislature to work together to strengthen job protections when taking leave for all New Jerseyans, so that no family has to risk job loss when they need to care for a new child or ill loved one. Since all workers pay into the state’s paid family leave program, it is essential that these benefits are equitable and accessible for everyone.