the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey Business & Industry Association CEO and President Michele N. Siekerka, Esq. issued the following statement in response to the New Jersey Fair Workweek legislation announced today.
“Today’s proposal is yet another strike against small business owners who already have to contend with an increasing minimum wage, enhanced paid sick and family leave laws and added energy and regulatory costs. All of this cumulatively adds to their expenses, shrinks their slim profit margins and challenges New Jersey’s business climate, affordability and competiveness.
“Further, this bill could eventually harm employees who actually seek more flexible hours in the food service, hospitality and retail industries, in particular. We anticipate that, without key changes to this legislation, it will have unintended consequences for those seeking flexible scheduling that can accommodate their work-life balance.”
“The bill applies to companies with more than 250 employees in total”
The bill also applies to freelancers who wish to work flexible hours. People driving for Uber to pick up some extra money. Retirees on Medicare who want part time work and would rather take salary in lieu of benefits. The disabled who can’t put in full time hours. In other words, it applies to people and puts them out of work.
There are massive layoffs of freelancers going on now in CA as a result of a similar bill called AB5 and the proposed NJ bill is even more stringent.
The only people this benefits are labor unions who hope to organize newly full time workers and, of course, the statists who love to meddle in other people’s affairs and, BTW, collect taxes on the result. Disgusting