Amendments to New Jersey’s Family Leave Act, signed into law in January 2026, lowered the employer-size coverage threshold, accelerated employee tenure eligibility, and significantly reduced the hours-worked standard. The 2026 amendments also appear to create robust reinstatement rights and strengthen anti-retaliation remedies tied to employees’ use of Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and Family Temporary Disability Benefits (FLI).

Adam Busler and Lauren Appleby discussed the background, key points, material changes concerning size thresholds, eligibility, anti-retaliation, and interaction with other laws; and practical takeaways to begin implementing a plan now before the amendments take effect on July 17, 2026.