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
Hotel workers in New Jersey will soon have new protections at their jobs. On June 11, 2019, Gov. Murphy signed the panic button bill into law. This law will mandate the installation of panic buttons in hotels that employees can use when they are being threatened with sexual assault or other dangers. To learn more
Many employers rely on unpaid interns to operate their businesses. If you worked as an unpaid intern and were asked to do mundane tasks that were not educational in nature, you may be entitled to recover compensation. Corporations offer unpaid internships to recruit recent graduates and students. While the companies claim that they are paying
When you lose your job and file a claim for benefits from your state’s unemployment compensation fund, the unemployment agency will review your claim and discuss it with your former employer. The agency may also interview you in person or over the phone. After the unemployment agency completes the review, it will either grant your
The federal Family and Medical Leave Act lets eligible workers who are employed at covered employers the right to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from their jobs each year in specific situations. To take this leave, workers must need to care for their own serious health conditions or the serious health conditions