New Jersey Senate Bill S2767

New Jersey 2026-2027 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/13/26

Caption

Establishes additional manner of employer compliance to provide earned sick leave for certain employees subject to collective bargaining agreements.

Summary

Senate Bill S2767 aims to establish additional compliance measures for employers regarding the provision of earned sick leave specifically for employees subject to collective bargaining agreements. This legislation amends P.L. 2018, c. 10 which previously outlined the earned sick leave requirements for employees in New Jersey. The bill clarifies that employers in the ready-mix concrete industry can comply with the state's sick leave law if they provide employees under a collective bargaining agreement with at least 40 hours of paid time off per benefit year, which can be utilized for sick leave purposes as defined in the agreement. Under this bill, employees are expected to accrue one hour of earned sick leave for every 30 hours worked, although employers have the option to provide the complete amount of earned sick leave at the beginning of each benefit year. Importantly, employees can carry forward unused sick leave only up to a limit of 40 hours per year. The provision emphasizes that employees who begin using sick leave must be allowed to do so without the condition of finding a replacement, and any unused sick leave will be reinstated upon re-employment within six months of termination. A significant point of contention surrounding S2767 is its applicability to employees excluded from the original earned sick leave law, raising questions about fairness and entitlements for varying labor sectors. Supporters of the bill argue that it provides necessary protections for workers within the ready-mix concrete industry who are bound by collective bargaining agreements, thereby ensuring that they receive adequate sick leave as part of their employment benefits. However, critics may point out that the bill may inadvertently restrict the broader provisions of the sick leave law for other sectors, potentially limiting the overall effectiveness of sick leave protections for all employees in New Jersey. The bill is structured to take effect immediately upon passage, emphasizing its urgent legislative intent to enhance employee rights and clarify employer responsibilities regarding sick leave provisions.