Effective October 1, 2013, all New Jersey employers with over twenty-five (25) employees are required to provide notice of employee rights and obligations under New Jersey’s newly enacted “Safe Act.”

The Safe Act, which became effective on October 1, 2013, provides employees who suffer from an incident of domestic violence or sexually violent offense (as defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19 and 30:4-27.6) with up to 20 days of unpaid leave to seek treatment or engage in other activity relating to the offense.  The Act also covers employees who are close family members of victims of domestic violence and sexually violent offenses.  The Act defines close family members as a child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, or civil union partner.

The New Jersey Department of Labor has just issued regulations requiring employers to post notice of employee rights and obligations under the Safe Act in a conspicuous location in the workplace.  Employers can obtain posters which include these notice requirements from the New Jersey Department of Labor’s website. 

The regulations also require employers to “use other appropriate means to keep its employees so informed.”  To comply with this additional notice requirement, employers should incorporate the Act’s key provisions in their employee handbooks and other written policies and procedures.