N.J. gov to sign paid family leave law

Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

Gov. Corzine is scheduled to sign a paid family leave bill into law today, making New Jersey the third state in the nation to adopt paid family leave.

New Jersey's paid family leave extends the state's temporary disability benefits to allow workers up to six weeks of paid leave to care for sick family members or newborn or newly adopted children. The program will be paid for by workers through a payroll deduction. Workers may receive two-thirds of their regular salary, up to $524 per week.

California and Washington states have also adopted paid family leave.

New Jersey's business community loudly criticized the paid family leave law, arguing that it would place an additional burden on businesses at a time when the economy was already weak. Meanwhile, advocates for the law praised the state for taking a step they say was long overdue.