NJ Employment Law Blog

On April 10, 2019, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released its enforcement and litigation data for fiscal year 2018. This EEOC press release highlights some of the statistics. The EEOC noted that, in 2018, it resolved over 90,000 charges of discrimination and recovered over $500 million on behalf of those who experienced workplace discrimination. » Read More

While New Jersey has long been considered progressive in preserving and protecting the employment rights of its citizens (see last year’s Pay Equity and Paid Sick Leave Laws), current activity in the Legislature and Governor’s office relating to laws impacting the workplace is at an all-time high. » Read More

With the partial shutdown of the federal government, the EEOC was essentially closed, offering limited services.  Time to file a charge of discrimination was not extended and individuals who were within 30 days of the deadlines for filing were instructed to do so via hard copy, as the on-line portal was unavailable.  » Read More

On January 25, 2019, the National Labor Relations Board (“Board”), reinstated a long-standing independent contractor standard.  This standard strengthens an employer’s ability to classify franchisees as independent contractors, or as employees exempt from the National Labor Relations Act.  » Read More

On December 21, 2018, the EEOC reported on the jury verdict issued just one day prior, in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Favorite Farms, Inc.  The jury awarded compensatory and punitive damages totaling $850,000 against the employer for sexual harassment and retaliation.  » Read More

Here is an oldie but goodie post from last year that we thought we’d share again. ‘Tis the season!

With the holiday season in full swing, we thought we would remind everyone about the “do’s and don’ts of company holiday parties.”  Here is an article published last year in NJ Business Magazine in which our own Pat Collins provides insight on some of the things that employers must be aware of when hosting the office party.  » Read More

The last in this year’s series of complimentary breakfast seminars will  feature a panel of speakers presenting in-depth on five emergent topics, which include:

• Paid Sick Leave Updates – Patrick T. Collins
• #MeToo: Where Are We Now? – Annmarie Simeone
• Restrictive Covenants: The Current Landscape – Keith D.

Today, October 29, the New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act goes into effect.  Employers around the state have been working to update their sick leave or Paid Time Off policies to be fully compliant with this new workplace requirement.  The law, however, has left many questions unanswered.  » Read More

Pat Collins led his second briefing this morning on New Jersey’s Paid Sick Leave Act.

Pat spoke to a crowd of fifty HR Professionals and attorneys on the new paid sick leave law that goes into effect on October 29. He provided a complete overview of the law, along with an analysis of the steps employers must take to come into compliance. » Read More

For some time now, and particularly since issuing the report on its Select Task Force’s Study of Harassment in the Workplace (you can review the report here), the EEOC has become increasingly active in pursuing harassment litigation.  In addition, as we wrote about here, the EEOC reconvened its Task Force for a meeting entitled “Transforming #MeToo into Harassment-Free Workplaces.” Participants discussed the EEOC’s efforts in harassment prevention since the 2016 report was issued; and considered testimony from experts in the field who discussed issues including state legislative action in the area of sexual harassment prevention.  » Read More