Giving caregivers the care they deserve.

Every day, all across New Jersey, more than one million family caregivers help their parents, spouses and other loved ones so they can remain at home—where they want to be.

This would be a huge burden even if it were their only responsibility. But the reality is, the majority of New Jersey’s family caregivers also juggle full- or part-time jobs while caregiving.

As these workers struggle to balance caregiving with their workplace obligations, many end up facing economic hardship as the demands of their caregiving role leads to missed work and even job loss.

But now, with the New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act in place, help has arrived for the more than 1.2 million workers in our state who do not currently have access to paid sick leave through their job.

The New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act allows family caregivers, as well as other workers, to accrue paid sick leave to care for themselves or a loved one. It’s a real lifesaver for working caregivers in our state.

The way the New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act works is simple:

• Eligible employees can accrue one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year.
• “Family member” is defined broadly to include those related by blood, marriage, and those whose relationship is like family.
• Current employers’ conditions and policies around sick leave benefits remain unaffected and continue to apply.

Being a caregiver is a labor of love, to be sure. But it can also be overwhelming and exhausting. It is truly one of life’s most stressful situations.

AARP New Jersey fought for earned sick and safe leave so workers in New Jersey, starting on October 29th, have the option to take time off to go to the doctor, or care for a loved one – without fear of losing their pay, or their job. People no longer have to choose between taking mom to the doctor or losing their wages.

Workers all across New Jersey are already earning paid sick leave—and you can, too. To learn more about how the New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act can make a difference in your life, visit aarp.org/njcaregiving.