The New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act (NJ SAFE Act) provides that certain employees may be eligible to receive an unpaid leave of absence – for a period not to exceed 20 days in a 12-month period – to address circumstances resulting from domestic violence or a sexually violent offense to employee or a family member. Leave under the NJ SAFE Act must be used in the 12-month period immediately following an instance of domestic violence or a sexually violent offense.
Eligibility
You may be eligible for a leave under NJ SAFE if you:
- Worked at least 1,000 hours during the immediately preceding 12-month period and;
- Worked for an employer in the State that employs 25 or more employees
If leave is requested for a reason covered by both the NJ SAFE Act and the Family medical Leave Act(FMLA) or the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA), the leave shall count simultaneously against the employee’s entitlement under each respective law. Documentation may be required to support the basis of the leave request.
Intermittent Leave
An employee does not need to use this leave entitlement in one block. Leave can be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule when necessary however intervals cannot be less than a day. Employees must make reasonable efforts to schedule leave for planned absences so as not to unduly disrupt the employer’s operations.