Up to a million workers in New Jersey can now take sick days under legislation signed by Gov. Phil Murphy last year.

Tuesday marked the first day employees could use the accrued sick time to take off from work.

According to the governor, the new measures are some of the strongest sick leave protections in the U.S.

The law mandated businesses give workers one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked.

"As of now, right now, employees can be using their earned sick time to care for themselves or a family member,” says State Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “This law will mean that people do not have to sacrifice their health or the health of their co-workers or the health of their customers or patients to be able to make ends meet."

The law also allows employees to carry up to 40 hours of earned sick leave, from one year to the next.

The new measures don't apply to union construction workers, public employees and independent contractors.