Voters in Elizabeth, New Jersey overwhelmingly approved a public question on the ballot requiring private-sector employers in the city to provide paid sick leave to their employees.  Elizabeth follows the lead of multiple jurisdictions (state and local) that have adopted similar measures across the country, including the following municipalities in New Jersey:  Jersey City, Newark, Passaic, Irvington, Paterson, East Orange, Trenton, Montclair, and Bloomfield.

The Interpretative Statement on the Elizabeth ballot provides that “[e]mployees who provide food service, child care, or home health care, or who work for employers with ten or more employees would be entitled to up to 40 hours of paid sick leave each year.”  Employers with fewer than 10 employees will be required to provide up to 24 hours of paid sick leave each year.  All employees will accrue one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

The City has not yet promulgated the full text of the sick leave ordinance.  Employers in Elizabeth should monitor the City’s website for the release of the new law and prepare for compliance with its requirements.