New Jersey Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act Update

Governor Phil Murphy recently signed the New Jersey Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act, S-723, aimed at bolstering the rights of domestic workers in the state. The legislation, championed by labor organizations, aims to provide workforce protections for housekeepers, nannies, and caregivers. The HCAOA NJ Chapter successfully advocated for amendments to the bill, mitigating its impact on the home care industry in New Jersey. Through extensive collaborative efforts, including in-person and virtual meetings, testimonies at committee hearings, and communication with legislators and industry partners, the HCAOA NJ Chapter Board of Directors and the HCAOA NJ Chapter lobbyist, Dennis Marco, played a pivotal role in influencing the final provisions of the legislation.

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Specific amendments to the New Jersey Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act include:
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• An employee can work seven straight days if the employee agrees. (Note - the employer cannot make the seventh straight workday mandatory).
• Employers, including HCSF’s, are exempt from providing “bonafide” break times when it would be detrimental to the client/patient.
• Employers are exempt from providing four weeks of severance pay to live-in employees when the live-in cases end.

Despite the lengthy implementation process expected for the new law, the HCAOA NJ Chapter Board of Directors and Dennis Marco remain committed to working with regulators and industry stakeholders to minimize the law's impact on Heath Care Service Firms, the home care industry, and HCAOA member organizations.