155K people used family leave benefits from 2009 to 2014
TRENTON -- More than 155,000 people used New Jersey's paid family leave to take care of a new child or a sick relative in the law's first five years, but too few know the benefits exist or how to sign-up, a study by the Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health released Wednesday said.
The study, based on a mix of focus group responses and individual interviews with 42 parents from Newark, Camden and Trenton, found those who had used family leave insurance were grateful for the time and financial support it provided, although some had wished for more time, money or a guarantee their job would be protected.
The 2009 state law gives people six weeks off while collecting two-thirds of their pay but capped at an amount set annually. In 2016, the weekly benefit is limited to $615, according to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
But researchers spoke to far more parents who had never heard of the law or didn't apply because their employers had never mentioned it, said Curtis Skinner, the director of family economic security for the school's National Center for Children in Poverty.
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"Neither the state nor employers are getting the word out," Skinner told reporters on a conference call describing the study's findings. Some learned about the program for the first time when it was described by the focus group, he said. "One mother said, 'They knew I was pregnant but no one ever brought it to my attention. I assumed I did not qualify.' "
Renee Wilson-Simmons, director of the school's National Center for Children in Poverty, commended New Jersey, which was the second state behind California to enact paid family leave insurance in 2009. Rhode Island has since passed a similar law giving workers four weeks of paid time off, she said.
"New Jersey has taken a vital step to invest in the future of young children and their families," Wilson-Simmons said. "But we believe -- and parents have told us -- that some modest reforms could make (the law) work much better for the low-income working parents who need it the most."
Those who used the benefits reported enjoying more "bonding time," including an additional month of breastfeeding, Skinner said. Although the law does not preserve an employee's job, most went back to work without an issue. At least one parent said the payments did not arrive until she was back at work, creating a hardship, he said.
The program is funded through employee payroll deductions. This year, employees will pay about 50 cents a week until they reach the yearly maximum contribution of $26.08, according to the state website.
The program paid out about $85.8 million in benefits to roughly 30,000 participants in 2015, according to the state.
There are 19 states and Washington DC., including New York, which are considering paid family leave laws. Wilson-Simmons said she hoped this first-of-its-kind study on New Jersey will inform lawmakers on crafting their own laws.
Cecilia Zalkind, executive director for Advocates of New Jersey, one of several community agencies that assisted in finding parents to join the focus groups, said she hoped policy makers and lawmakers use this "much-needed information about how the program is working and how it can be improved."
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), one of the prime sponsors of the law, said he would r"eview the report and other information to determine if other actions should be taken."
"New Jersey can be proud of the fact that we were one of the first state's in the country to enact a paid family leave law and that even now we are one of only three states with paid leave for families," Sweeney added. "This report shows that the program works and that it is valued by employees in New Jersey. More should be done to increase awareness and to make it easier for workers to take advantage of it, especially low-income employees."
For more information about paid family leave benefits in New Jersey, click here to go to the state website.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated people eligible for paid family leave benefits must work for businesses with more than 50 employees. The law allows any worker to apply for benefits, regardless of the size of the business.
Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.