NJ FAMILY LEAVE INS

Chefsint

Effective July 2009 qualifying NJ ees may take up to 6 weeks paid leave to care for family members and bonding with child.

Does bonding time need to begin immediately after birth? Can an employee wait six months and then decide that they would like to take time to bond with their child? Would they be paid for 6 of those weeks under the new law?

 Can bonding time be taken any time within the first year of birth?  What are the guidelines under the new law? NJ Family Leave Insurance

regdunlop

i think the eligible employee would be paid the 6 weeks of benefits for bonding leave under the the New Jersey Family Leave Act as long as the leave started within a year of the birth or adoption placement of the child. this is from the state -

"Beginning July 1, 2009, New Jersey law will provide up to six (6) weeks of Family Leave Insurance benefits. Benefits are payable to covered employees from either the New Jersey State Plan or an approved employer-provided private plan to: • Bond with a child during the first 12 months after the child’s birth, if the covered individual or the domestic partner or civil union partner of the covered individual, is a biological parent of the child, or the first 12 months after the placement of the child for adoption with the covered individual. • Care for a family member with a serious health condition supported by a certification provided by a health care provider. Claims may be filed for six consecutive weeks, for intermittent weeks or for 42 intermittent days during a 12 month period beginning with the first date of the claim. Family member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner or parent of a covered individual. Child means a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild or legal ward of a covered individual, child of a domestic partner of the covered individual, or child of a civil union partner of the covered individual, who is less than 19 years of age or is 19 years of age or older but incapable of self-care because of mental or physical impairment."

Chefsint

Thank you for your guidance. I appreciate it.