The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) has once again selected the Employers Association of New Jersey (EANJ) as a recipient of the Cultivating Access, Rights, and Equity (CARE) Grant Program for fiscal year 2024. EANJ is one of 24 organizations and collaboratives chosen for this grant.
This year, the grant has been expanded to include training on crucial work rights such as overtime, minimum wage, misclassification, and wage payment/wage theft. It also covers paid family and medical leave benefits and earned sick leave.
The CARE Grant Program aims to increase New Jersey employers’ awareness of, and workers’ equitable access to, paid family and medical leave benefits like Temporary Disability Insurance and Family Leave Insurance, Earned Sick Leave, and related work rights. The expanded grant now addresses compliance with key labor standards to ensure comprehensive awareness and support for employers statewide.
EANJ will utilize the funding to provide outreach and education to employers across the state through May 2025.
“EANJ is honored to be selected again as a recipient of this grant,” says Christine Myers, the Association’s President. “Supporting employers through outreach and education is the very foundation of EANJ’s mission, and we look forward to expanding our efforts to include critical training on work rights alongside paid leave benefits and earned sick leave.”
As 2023/2024 CARE Grant recipients, EANJ created a robust campaign to raise broad awareness among NJ employers about NJ’s Paid Family Medical Leave Programs. This includes Family Leave Insurance (FLI), Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI), as well as NJ’s Earned Sick Leave law. Employing a multifaceted approach, EANJ conducted virtual and in-person educational training sessions that reached 540 employers statewide. Additionally, the Association actively participated in direct person-to-person outreach by disseminating NJDOL-approved resources to nearly 500 employers at various meetings organized by business conveners. The EANJ staff fielded close to 200 direct questions from employers regarding various aspects of these laws.
“The EANJ staff fulfills a crucial role in helping employers navigate these complex laws and understand how they apply to their specific business situations,” says Amy Vazquez, Vice President of EANJ. “We also provide employers with insights into how these programs integrate into the broader landscape of employment regulations.”
EANJ will be available for speaking engagements and training sessions for industry-specific trade associations, business chambers, small business groups, and other associations on earned sick leave, paid family and medical leave, and essential work rights.
“This expanded grant will allow EANJ to bring the collective expertise of our staff to a wider range of employers statewide,” says Myers. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with LWD on this important initiative.”
Those interested in having EANJ address their business group can reach out directly to Amy Vazquez at amy@eanj.org.
About EANJ: Employers Association of New Jersey is a non-profit trade association dedicated to helping employers make sound employment decisions through education, informed discussion, training, and access to benefits plans. With a 108-year history, EANJ continues driving innovation while fostering collaboration among its members. For more information visit www.eanj.org.
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