Paid Leave Mandate To Be Signed Friday

On Friday, Governor Corzine will sign legislation making New Jersey a more expensive place to live, work and do business. The bill (A-873) will make NJ the second state with a paid leave mandate on virtually all businesses. 

From CIANJ's press release,

“Once again, Trenton has chosen to increase the cost of doing business in one of the nation’s most expensive states,” said CIANJ President John Galandak. “Creating this mandate during an economic downturn only exacerbates the negative message sent to companies considering locating to or expanding within New Jersey. Benefits are nice, but a job is essential.”

Remember that last line. In 2007 New Jersey added just 3,700 private-sector jobs, growing only 0.1%. That put the Garden State 41st in the nation. Meanwhile, NJ has already lost 10,000 private-sector jobs in 2008. Adding mandates unique to the state only worsens that trend. Call it subtraction by addition.