Yesterday, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a very important amendment to the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”). Employees Cannot Waive Anti-Discrimination Rights in Advance Under the amendment, any provision in an employment contract that requires employees to waive in advance any “substantive or procedural right or remedy relating…
Articles Posted in Discrimination
Judge Grants Tax Gross-Up in Discrimination Lawsuit
In a recent opinion, a federal judge ruled that nine retired Jersey City Police Sergeants who prevailed in their employment discrimination and retaliation lawsuits should have their economic damages awards increased to offset the negative tax consequences of receiving a lump sum payment rather than receiving higher salaries and pensions…
Slight Delay to Promotion Not Legally Actionable Discrimination
In a recent opinion, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an employer’s failure to promote an employee was not legally actionable discrimination where the employer promoted the same individual to the same job approximately one month later. Evon Grossberg worked for the Hudson County Department of Social Services…
Are Telecommuters Protected by the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination?
The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”) prohibits discrimination in the workplace. But does it protect employees who work for New Jersey companies remotely, such as telecommuters? A recent ruling by New Jersey’s Appellate Division makes it clear that an employee does not have to physically live or work in…
New Jersey Enacts Stronger Equal Pay Law
Governor Murphy signed into law on April 24, 2018 a law known as the Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act. It amends the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”) to expand and strengthen the rights of employees to be paid equally for their work without regard to their gender, pregnancy,…
Supreme Court Allows More Time to Refile Cases in State Court
Last week, the United States Supreme Court issued an interesting ruling in an employment law case that impacts the statute of limitations. By way of background, when a case is filed in (or removed to) federal court based on the fact that the plaintiff has asserted a federal claim, the…
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination Protects Breastfeeding
Last week, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”) was expanded to prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of breastfeeding and to require employers to provide certain reasonable accommodations for nursing. The LAD is New Jersey’s anti-discrimination law. It prohibits discrimination and harassment based on age, color, disability, gender…
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination Provides Additional Protection to Military Reserves
On August 8, 2017, Governor Chris Christie signed into law an amendment to the New Jersey law Against Discrimination (“LAD”) that provides additional protection to members of the United States military. The amendment went into effect immediately. Prior to the amendment, the LAD included “liability for service in the Armed…
Jury Must Decide Whether Employee Fired Because of Pregnancy or Insubordination
On August 3, 2017, New Jersey’s Appellate Division reversed a trial court’s opinion that had dismissed an employee’s pregnancy discrimination case, finding enough evidence from which a jury could conclude that the company’s claim it fired her for insubordination was a pretext for (excuse to cover up) discrimination. Sandra Roopchand…
Single Racist Remark Can Be Actionable Harassment
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently recognized that a supervisor’s single use of a racial epithet can be enough, on its own, to create a hostile work environment under federal law. This is consistent with longstanding president under both the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and the New York…