As reported by NJ 101.5, Governor Chris Christie has signed the bill granting back pay to state workers to cover the wages lost during the three-day partial government shutdown at the start of July.

An estimated 30,000 to 35,000 workers were furloughed. Most of them were off the job for one day, as the first two days of the shutdown fell on a weekend — though some would have been on the job on Saturday and Sunday, such as parks workers.

Christie didn’t indicate when workers will receive the back pay. He said the law takes effect immediately, enabling the State Department of the Treasury to begin acting on the reimbursements as quickly as possible.

However, in reviewing the bill, S3422, it is unclear if essential employees, such as New Jersey State Corrections Officers and Corrections Supervisors who were on scheduled vacations and had the vacation days converted to “unpaid leaves of absences” will have their pay restored.  We will continue to review this issue and look to the NJDOC, JJC and NJ State Parole Board to see how they handle the same.