New Jersey § 43:21-39
Full text of New Jersey New Jersey Statutes § 43:21-39, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 43:21-39.
a. Family temporary disability leave shall be compensable subject to the limitations
of P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.) for any period of family temporary disability leave taken by a covered individual
which commences after June 30, 2009. b. An individual shall not simultaneously receive disability benefits for family temporary
disability leave and any other disability benefits pursuant to P.L.1948, c. 110 ( C.43:21-25 et al.) or any unemployment compensation, or any paid sick leave, vacation time or
other leave at full pay from the employer of the individual. c. The employer of an individual may, notwithstanding any other provision of law,
including the provisions of N.J.S.18A:30-1 et seq. , permit the individual, during a period of family temporary disability leave, to
use any paid sick leave, vacation time or other leave at full pay made available by
the employer before the individual uses disability benefits for family temporary disability
leave pursuant to P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.). Nothing in P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.) shall be construed as nullifying any provision of an existing collective
bargaining agreement or employer policy, or preventing any new provision of a collective
bargaining agreement or employer policy, which provides employees more generous leave
or gives employees greater rights to select which kind of leave is used or select
the order in which the different kinds of leave are used. Nothing in P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.) shall be construed as preventing an employer from providing more generous
benefits than are provided under P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.) or providing benefits which supplement the benefits provided under P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.) for some or all of the employer's employees. d. An individual who is entitled to leave under the provisions of the “Family Leave
Act,” P.L.1989, c. 261 ( C.34:11B-1 et seq. ) or the federal “Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993,” Pub.L.103-3 ( 29 U.S.C. s.2601 et seq. ), shall take any benefits provided for family temporary disability leave pursuant
to P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.) concurrently with leave taken pursuant to the “Family Leave Act,” P.L.1989, c. 261 ( C.34:11B-1 et seq. ) or the federal “Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993,” Pub.L.103-3 ( 29 U.S.C. s.2601 et seq. ). Nothing in P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.) shall be construed to grant an employee any entitlement to be restored by
the employer to employment held by the employee prior to taking family temporary disability
leave or any right to take action against an employer who refuses to restore the employee
to employment after the leave. Nothing in P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.) shall be construed to increase, reduce or otherwise modify any entitlement
of an employee to return to employment or right of the employee to take action under
the provisions of the “Family Leave Act,” P.L.1989, c. 261 ( C.34:11B-1 et seq. ). If an employee receives benefits for family temporary disability leave pursuant
to P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.) with respect to employment with an employer who is not an employer as defined
in the “Family Leave Act,” P.L.1989, c. 261 ( C.34:11B-1 et seq. ) and that employer fails or refuses to restore the employee to employment after the
period of family temporary disability leave, that failure or refusal shall not be
a wrongful discharge in violation of a clear mandate of public policy, and the employee
shall not have a cause of action against that employer, in tort, or for breach of
an implied provision of the employment agreement, or under common law, for that failure
or refusal. e. An employee taking family temporary disability leave or an employer from whom the
employee is taking the leave shall have the same right to appeal a determination of
a benefit for the family temporary disability leave made under P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.) as an employee or employer has to appeal a determination of a benefit for
the disability of the employee under the “Temporary Disability Benefits Law,” P.L.1948,
c. 110 ( C.43:21-25 et al.), and any regulations adopted pursuant to the “Temporary Disability Benefits
Law,” P.L.1948, c. 110 ( C.43:21-25 et al.). f. In the event of a period of family temporary disability leave of any individual
covered under the State plan, the employer shall, not later than the ninth day of
the period of family temporary disability leave, or not later than the ninth day after the employee notifies the employer of an anticipated
period of family temporary disability leave pursuant to subsection h. of this section,
whichever comes first, including any time in which the employer provides sick leave, vacation or other fully
paid leave, issue to the individual and to the division printed notices on division
forms containing the name, address and Social Security number of the individual, such
wage information as the division may require to determine the individual's eligibility
for benefits, including any sick pay, vacation or other fully paid time off provided
by the employer during the period of family temporary disability leave, and the name,
address, and division identity number of the employer. Not later than 30 days after the commencement of the period of family temporary
disability leave for which the notice is furnished by the employer, the individual
shall furnish to the division a notice and claim for family temporary disability leave
benefits. Upon the submission of the notices by the employer and the individual, and the commencement of the compensable portion of the family temporary disability
leave pursuant to P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.1 et al.), the division may issue benefit payments. In the case of family temporary disability leave taken to care for a family member
with a serious health condition, the benefits may be paid for periods not exceeding
three weeks pending the receipt of the certification required pursuant to subsection
b. of section 11 of P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.2 ). Failure to furnish notice and certification in the manner above provided shall not
invalidate or reduce any claim if it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the division
not to have been reasonably possible to furnish the notice and certification and that
the notice and certification was furnished as soon as reasonably possible. g. Each covered employer shall conspicuously post notification, in a place or places
accessible to all employees in each of the employer's workplaces, in a form issued
by regulation promulgated by the commissioner, of each covered employee's rights regarding
benefits payable pursuant to this section. The employer shall also provide each employee of the employer with a written copy
of the notification: (1) not later than 30 days after the form of the notification
is issued by regulation; (2) at the time of the employee's hiring, if the employee
is hired after the issuance; (3) whenever the employee notifies the employer that
the employee is taking time off for circumstances under which the employee is eligible
for benefits pursuant to this section; and (4) at any time, upon the first request
of the employee. h. With respect to any period of family temporary disability leave commencing on or
after October 4, 2019 if an individual knows in advance when the period will commence, the individual may
notify the employer of the anticipated period of family temporary disability leave
and submit to the division a claim for benefits for that period, which shall include
a statement of when the period will commence and any certification required pursuant
to subsection b. of section 11 of P.L.2008, c. 17 ( C.43:21-39.2 ), prior to, but not more than 60 days prior to, the date that the period will commence. The division shall process that claim immediately and, upon finding that the claim
is valid, shall pay the benefit upon the commencement of the period of family temporary
disability leave, except that if the division receives the claim less than 30 days
before the commencement of the period, the division shall make the payment not more
than 30 days after the receipt of the claim. The periods of family temporary disability leave to which the provisions of this
subsection apply shall include, but not be limited to, any of the following if the
commencement date of the leave is known in advance: periods of leave for care of a
child of the individual after adoption , the placement of a child into foster care, or childbirth , including childbirth under a valid agreement between the individual and a gestational
carrier ; periods of leave for scheduled medical procedures, treatments, or appointments
for a family member of the individual; and periods of leave for scheduled ongoing
care of a family member of the individual. If the individual did not establish enough base weeks or have enough total earnings
during the base year preceding the week the individual submits the claim, the division shall notify the
individual that the individual may file the claim again upon or after the commencement
of the period of family temporary disability leave and the division shall then reconsider
the individual's eligibility for benefits based on the base year preceding the week in which the period of family temporary disability leave commences.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey § 43:21-39
What does New Jersey Statutes § 43:21-39 cover?
Section 43:21-39 is part of the New Jersey Statutes, the codified statutory law of New Jersey. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite New Jersey § 43:21-39?
A common citation format is "New Jersey Statutes § 43:21-39" (New Jersey). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of New Jersey law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the New Jersey official source linked on this page or consult a licensed New Jersey attorney.
How does New Jersey § 43:21-39 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in New Jersey can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in New Jersey.