What are the harassment laws in New Jersey? How a New Jersey employment attorney can protect your legal rights. The New Jersey Law against discrimination was enacted to eradicate discrimination in the public in the workplace. A harassment and discrimination New Jersey employment law firm focuses on harassment in the workplace and does not deal with harassment that occurs in the public. It is much more difficult to have a successful lawsuit or claim for harassment that is done outside of the workplace based on various free speech and other issues. It is recommended that you contact a criminal attorney or family attorney to discuss harassment that does not occur in the workplace as they are more likely in a better position to advise you on whether the harassment in public is illegal. … [Read more...]
New Jersey Age Discrimination Attorney
Have you been discriminated against based on your age? Here is how a New Jersey age discrimination attorney can help you prove your case and protect your rights. It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against you based on protected characteristics. New Jersey discrimination law firms have found based on years of representing workers and employees that the most common types of discrimination are based on age, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy and national origin. The majority of cases that come to a firm and that are accepted regarding discrimination fall into these categories. Many requests come from prospective clients who were treated differently in the workplace and believe they are victims of these common areas of discrimination. However, although that may … [Read more...]
New Jersey Wrongful Termination Lawyers
Common types of wrongful termination and discrimination in New Jersey. Do you believe that you were wrongfully terminated in New Jersey? One of the most common claims that an employment law firm receives are for wrongful termination claims. Terminations, suspensions or adverse employment actions are unfair and wrongful to you. The question is whether your termination was illegal. In order for the adverse employment action to be illegal, and not just wrongful, we will need to demonstrate that the adverse employment action was taken against you based on a protected characteristic or in retaliation for you complaining about discrimination, harassment or illegal acts in the workplace. You may have blown the whistle on your employer and have been terminated. These are the types of things that … [Read more...]
Divorcing Employees Protected from Discrimination, Says Appeals Court In New Jersey
The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) outlaws workplace discrimination on basis of many things, including “marital status.” On Friday, the New Jersey Appellate Division ruled that a male employee married to a female coworker who then was separated and in the processing of her could not be fired because his boss was worried about the impact of an “ugly divorce” on the office. The court found that the defendant “terminated plaintiff because of stereotypes about divorcing persons – among other things, they are antagonistic, uncooperative with each other, and incapable of being civil or professional in each other’s company in the workplace….[Defendant] responded not to any actual proved conduct.” This ruling breaks new ground because it considered a case where the employee was “in … [Read more...]
Labor Standards in New Jersey
The Fair Labor Standards Act was first voted into law in 1938, requiring a 40-cent minimum wage, a 40-hour maximum work week, and abolished child labor for individuals under the age of 16. While many amendments have been made at the federal level to increase the minimum wage or exempt certain groups from its standards, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act still prevails over the American work force and her employers. In addition to the federal act, all states have additional labor standards laws that protect workers from abuse, poor working conditions, and too many hours. How Much is Minimum Wage? The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour. Each state can enact laws to increase or reduce that rate as they see fit. New Jersey just approved a ballot vote last year to … [Read more...]
Before You Sign That That Employment Agreement
A recent case in a New Jersey District Court was dismissed based on one clause in an employee handbook. This clause, known as a “Woolley Clause,” basically stated that the employee handbook is in no way, shape, or form, an employment contract, and that any employee is retained on an “at-will” basis. That Woolley Clause protects the employer by having all employees agree to abide by the rules set forth in the employee handbook as it stands at the time of their signing, and that they also agree to any changes that may be made in the future. For this particular case in New Jersey, that meant that the employee, Sandra Rossi, could not be held by her employer, Raymour & Flanigan, to any forced arbitration rules based on this clause. When Sandra Rossi brought discrimination and … [Read more...]
How to Collect Unpaid Overtime
Overtime pay is mandated under both NJ state laws and the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). If your job is not exempt from overtime, you should be paid time-and-a-half for any hours worked over the 40 hours per week standard. However, not all employers are forthcoming and prompt with overtime pay. If you have logged overtime hours, but have not received your due overtime pay, there are a few options to consider in order to get the money you deserve. Request Your Overtime Pay In Writing Submit a written request to your employer, outlining your hours worked, calculating your regular pay plus your overtime pay. Include copies of any pay stubs to show the difference in the wages you received versus the pay you have earned. Be sure to date your written request and include dates and … [Read more...]
Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) Passed By Senate
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act has been passed in the Senate, but still awaits approval from the House of Representatives. This bill, known as ENDA, secures non-discrimination employment rights for the LGBT population, who were not previously protected under other laws. This means that no one may be fired or discriminated against in the workplace for their sexual orientation or gender identification. In New Jersey, employees have been protected by the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) for years. New Jersey State’s law already protects against discrimination for sexual orientation as well as a multitude of other classes like gender discrimination (protecting women from sexual harassment, etc.), racial discrimination, and age discrimination. With this new law on the horizon at … [Read more...]
Jury Decides – Use of N-Word is Unacceptable in the Workplace
The verdict is in as a jury has answered the often-debated issue of whether or not the use of the N-word is acceptable. The short answer is no. At least not in the workplace. Many New Jersey residents first heard about this issue from the much-publicized Johnson vs. Carmona and STRIVE case earlier this month. Brandi Johnson brought a four-minute long recorded tirade of her boss, Rob Carmona, to court to play for the jury. Carmona, manager and founder of the STRIVE employment training program, was found guilty of workplace discrimination and operating a hostile work environment. In the recording, Carmona loudly berated Johnson and repeatedly used the N-word toward her, bringing what had previously been a social discussion into a legal battle on the federal stage. Carmona’s lawyers … [Read more...]
How to Sue Your Employer For Discrimination
If you have ever been the victim of workplace discrimination, be it sexual discrimination, gender discrimination, racial discrimination or else, then you’re entitled to just compensation under the law. If you believe you have been discriminated against in the workplace, then you have probably already asked yourself, “How do I sue my employer for discrimination?” While this blog should not be your primary source for comprehensive legal advice, it is a great starting point and can offer a general guide to first steps in understanding the process of suing your employer for discrimination. We recommend speaking to an attorney who specializes in workplace discrimination and employment law as soon as possible. Step One If your company issues an employee handbook, you should always take … [Read more...]