On March 19, 2020, Governor Murphy signed a new law that grants immediate protection to employees who have or are likely to have an \u201cinfectious disease\u201d caused by \u201ca living organism or other pathogen, including a fungus, bacteria, parasite, protozoan, virus\u00a0or poison, which may or may not be transmissible from person to person, animal to person, or insect to person.\u201d\u00a0 The coronavirus is an infectious disease within the meaning of the law.<\/p>\n
Employer Mandates: <\/b>The law mandates that an employer may NOT terminate the employment of any employee who requests or who takes time off from work based on a written or electronically transmitted recommendation from a New Jersey medical professional that the employee should take time off for a specified period because the employee has or is likely to have an infectious disease.\u00a0 Additionally, the employer may NOT refuse to reinstate the employee to work after the expiration of the leave specified by the medical professional. Reinstatement must be to the same position held when the leave commenced without any additional penalties.<\/p>\n
Violations: <\/b>Any employer violating this new law will be compelled to reinstate the employee to his\/her prior position and is subject to a fine of $2,500 for each violation.<\/p>\n