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.

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Photo of Allison Martin Allison Martin

Allison Martin is a senior counsel in the Labor & Employment Law Department. Allison represents employers in a wide range of employment litigation matters, including employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation lawsuits arising under federal, state and local statutes; wage-and-hour claims; defamation and tort…

Allison Martin is a senior counsel in the Labor & Employment Law Department. Allison represents employers in a wide range of employment litigation matters, including employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation lawsuits arising under federal, state and local statutes; wage-and-hour claims; defamation and tort claims; and breach of contract claims. An experienced litigator, she has secured significant victories for clients in federal and state courts at the trial and appellate levels, as well as in arbitration tribunals. In addition to single-plaintiff cases, Allison’s practice also includes defending against nationwide class and collective action lawsuits. She also has significant experience with EEOC proceedings, including representing clients in connection with EEOC Commissioner Charges and investigations concerning alleged claims of systemic discrimination.

Allison also counsels clients on a broad range of employment matters, including advising on investigations, employment agreements, employment policies and procedures, and employee terminations and discipline. She also has significant experience conducting high-profile internal investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment and other workplace misconduct.

Allison has an active pro bono practice focused on criminal justice, domestic violence and animal rights issues.

Earlier in her career, Allison served as a law clerk to Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

At Seton Hall University School of Law, Allison was an Articles Editor for the Seton Hall Law Review. Allison also interned for Chief Judge Garrett E. Brown (Ret.) of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey while in law school.