Recent Changes to the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and Age Discrimination
On October 5, 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law legislation that expands the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) to expand protections for older employees. Section 11 of the NJLAD has been removed which means that New
What constitutes an unlawful hostile work environment?
Hostile work environment is a frequently used and frequently misinterpreted phrase that has a specific legal definition. The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination establishes a hostile work environment exists when an employee can prove that the harassment he or she
New Jersey Supreme Court rules that supervisor’s use of ethnic slurs against an employee on only two occasions is enough to establish a hostile work environment claim
The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously held that a supervisor’s two instances of offensive slurs were sufficient to support a hostile work environment claim. On June 16, 2021, the Court held in Rios Jr. v. Meda Pharmaceutical, Inc., that two
Rights Of Home Health Care Aide Workers
Most home health care workers must be paid minimum wage and overtime pay. Minimum wage in New Jersey is $12.00 per hour and in New York City, it is $15.00 per hour. If a worker works more than 40 hours
Arbitration in New Jersey Law Against Discrimination Claims
There has been much debate in New Jersey on whether arbitration agreements are enforceable in discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims brought under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD). The New Jersey District Court settled this matter in N.J. Civil
Beware of No-Fault Attendance Policies
There is a practice that some employers utilize that employees need to understand. It is known as a “No-Fault Attendance Policy.” These policies provide for automatic discipline, up to termination, after a specified number of absences or “occurrences” within a
New Jersey’s Minimum Wage increases to $12 per hour starting January 1, 2021
The 2021 minimum wage for most employees in New Jersey will be $12 per hour — an increase from $11 per hour in 2020. The minimum wage for tipped employees is increasing to $4.13 per hour, up from $3.13 per
New York City Expands Paid Sick Leave for Employees
Effective January 1, 2021, New York City is expanding its paid sick leave law. The amendments to the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law (“NYCPSL”) provide the following: Employers with 100 or more employees must provide up to 56
New Jersey COVID-19 Employment Update: Executive Order 192
The Covid-19 outbreak continues to lead to new laws and regulations in the workplace. The most recent is Executive Order 192, issued by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy which took effect on November 5, 2020. This Order requires employers with
Can you be fired for having to quarantine?
An issue facing employees right now is the technicalities related to returning to the workplace. For employees who are back at work, it is unsurprising that situations may arise where the employee is exposed to COVID-19, a family member has