In 2008, New Jersey became the second state to adopt a paid family leave policy. Nearly a decade into the Family Leave Insurance (FLI) program, it’s a clear success, having replaced hundreds of millions of dollars in lost wages for tens of thousands of New Jerseyans who needed to take time off to be with a new child or sick family member.

And yet this trailblazing program is falling short of its potential, with serious repercussions for New Jersey families and for the state’s economy. The program is not widely advertised, particularly among low-paid workers. And the wage replacement level and cap on earnings are so low that many workers across the income scale simply cannot afford to take advantage of what should be an important benefit.

With modest tweaks, New Jersey could remove the barriers that stop many people from taking paid family leave, enabling many more hardworking men and women to take the paid time off for which they’re eligible. These benefits could be fully funded by a small increase to current worker contributions – with measurable benefits for families, employers and the state’s economy.

Specifically, lawmakers should:

·       Increase the current two-thirds wage replacement

·       Raise the very low cap on earnings while on leave

·       Include job protections for those taking leave

·       Expand outreach efforts

·       Allow workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave

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