Southern Ocean County businesses will soon be required to comply with expanded family leave protections following the signing of Assembly Bill A3450 by Gov. Phil Murphy on January 17. The legislation broadens eligibility for job‑protected family leave, extending coverage to thousands of additional workers employed by small and mid‑sized companies throughout the region.

Under previous law, only employees at businesses with 30 or more workers were guaranteed job protection when taking state‑approved family leave. A3450 lowers that threshold to 15 employees, bringing many Southern Ocean County employers—including retail shops, restaurants, service providers, and seasonal operations—under the requirements for the first time. The bill also reduces the amount of time an employee must work before becoming eligible. Workers will now qualify for job‑protected leave after three months of employment, rather than the previous one‑year requirement.

The law will take effect six months from its signing, with implementation scheduled for mid‑July 2026. Once in effect, eligible employees will be entitled to up to 12 weeks of job‑protected family leave and must be reinstated to the same or an equivalent position upon returning to work. The law allows leave for bonding with a newborn, bonding with a newly adopted or newly placed foster child, or caring for a family member with a serious health condition.

Southern Ocean County’s economy is built on a diverse mix of small businesses, many of which previously fell below the 30‑employee threshold. With A3450’s expansion, employers in communities such as Stafford, Barnegat, Lacey, Waretown, Little Egg, Tuckerton and Long Beach Island will need to update internal policies, train managers, and prepare for staffing adjustments ahead of the July 2026 deadline. 

A3450  can be found online for more information.