Just when you think they can’t get any sillier, Save Jerseyans, you get a big to create a paid leave/remote work program for… heavy periods?
Some of the conditions which would trigger a remote work or paid leave option for New Jersey workers pursuant to A1995 can be associated with serious complications. Others are perfectly treatable, usually mild or moderate in presentation, and the primary symptom is what would be colloquially referred to as a “heavy period.”
But if sponsor Shanique Speight (D-29) gets her way, New Jersey employers will have to pay workers who want to stay home or work outside of the office owing to a variety of menstrual issues. The new mandate would be largely unfunded.
“Under each program, a participating employer will be entitled to tax credits for wages paid to employees,” the bill’s official statement explains. “For the medical leave program, employers will be entitled to a dollar for dollar tax credit for wages paid to employees in the program up to two full days each month. For the remote work program, employers will be entitled to a tax credit equal to 25 percent of the wages paid to employees in the program up to two full days each month.”
For good measure? The bill is gender neutral and doesn’t make any reference to “women” which leaves the door presumably open for a “trans man” to coerce benefits from their employer.
Assemblywoman Speight’s bill was introduced and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee on January 9, 2024. We’ll let you know if/when it moves…
