I remember life before our paid leave program in New Jersey. In 2006, I had an employee who had to leave his job because of family needs. I only found out after the fact that his mother was dying of cancer. This was awful for him, and for my business. He had been my best employee for several years and performed many critical management functions. The costs in time and money to replace him were astronomical.
The NJ Family Leave Insurance law now allows small business owners like me to provide paid leave to my employees and ensure that no one is forced to choose between caring for serious family and medical needs or putting food on the table. It also helps small businesses recruit and retain dedicated employees, decreasing costly turnover expenses and strengthening our bottom lines.