Significance

• Under the leave, individuals can collect up to two-thirds of their salary each week. According to "New Jersey News," as of August, 2010, the maximum amount that can be collected is $524.The first state to implement the Paid Family Leave Act was California. The act was created in 2002 with the purpose of supporting workers who needed to care for a new family member or bond with a new child. Under the act, employees also gained the ability to care for family members with serious health issues. There are three states that have instituted paid family leave. These three states are Washington, California and New Jersey.
  
  

Benefits

• There are several benefits that PFLA offers employees. One benefit is that it allows an employee to take up to six weeks of leave without foregoing a paycheck in the event of a childbirth or a family illness. Another benefit is that new parents are not required to take all six weeks of paid leave at the same time.
  
  

Considerations

• Although the PFLA has many benefits, individuals who take advantage of the leave should consider that their employer is not required to provide them with health benefits while they are on a paid family leave. Furthermore, although the FMLA can protect a person's job, the employer is not required to protect their job under the PFLA.