Despite the widespread need to take leave from work when faced with a caregiving obligation or when welcoming a new child to the family, many workers in the U.S. lack comprehensive paid leave with job protection and so are forced to choose between taking care of their families or preserving their jobs. While the U.S. is one of only a few industrialized countries that does not offer comprehensive paid leave with job protection to its citizens, New Jersey has been at the vanguard of providing this valuable benefit so that workers can afford to take off the time they need.
We utilize survey data from 1,185 New Jersey service sector workers, collected in Fall 2021 as part of The Shift Project. Our data permit an unprecedented view of New Jersey’s frontline workers’ need for and access to paid leave and provide unparalleled insight into the work and family lives of low-wage workers.