Many employers are now requiring their employees to wear masks or other face coverings because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you refuse to wear a face mask at work, you may face discipline at your job. Mandatory masking policies at workplaces in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are common and are based on the recommendations from
When employers with 100 or more workers plan mass layoffs, they must provide advance notice to the affected workers. However, there are several exceptions to this law. When an exception applies, the notice requirements do not apply. If you have been laid off or terminated from your job, the attorneys at Swartz Swidler can review
Workers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania have the right to work in environments that are free from religious discrimination. Employers must provide reasonable accommodations to workers for their religious beliefs when the requested accommodations do not place an undue hardship on the business’s operations. However, workers might wonder what they have to do to prove
When people experience workplace discrimination based on their protected characteristics in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, they can file discrimination charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC is the federal agency that enforces federal anti-discrimination laws. When it receives a discrimination charge, the agency will investigate to determine whether discrimination occurred. If the agency
Federal and state anti-discrimination laws prohibit discrimination based on an applicant’s or employees protected characteristics. Employment discrimination can happen in many ways, and the conduct can be overt or subtle. Prohibited discrimination in the workplace happens when an employer treats a member of a protected class differently than other workers based on the employee’s protected
Religious freedom is considered to be a fundamental right that is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. was formed by early settlers who were fleeing religious persecution. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal for private employers, state governments, local governments, and educational institutions to
Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, eligible employees who work for employers that are covered by the law can take as much as 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year to care for their serious health conditions or the health conditions of their family members. This leave is unpaid, but the workers’ jobs
On March 18, Congress passed and President Trump signed a bill to help Americans as they deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Multiple provisions in this law provide protections for workers. The employment law attorneys at Swartz Swidler believe that people should understand this bill and the changes it could make. A detailed list of the
There are few federal laws that require employers to give employees leave of absence. However, many states have enacted their own laws that provide employees with additional leave rights. In June 2013, New Jersey joined 12 other states to implement leave laws for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The result is the New
In New Jersey, some employers ask their employees to sign non-compete agreements as a condition of employment. These are agreements that the employee will refrain from working for a competitor of the company for a certain time after his or her employment with the current employer ends. Non-compete agreements are not always enforceable in New