Updated June 2026 Yes, an employer may sometimes fire an at-will employee based on a rumor, even if the rumor is unfair or untrue. But a rumor-based firing may become legally actionable if the rumor is tied to discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, protected activity, defamation, unemployment benefits, or another unlawful reason. Workplace rumors can cause…
Gender bias directed towards women has been an issue for hundreds of years. In the workplace, gender discrimination has been a known issue since women began working outside of the home. Women who have tried to build successful careers have had to deal with less opportunity for advancement, lower wages, and unfair perceptions that they…
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees have faced workplace discrimination for decades based on their sexuality. This type of discrimination is harmful and illegal. Discrimination based on sexual orientation has been illegal in New Jersey since 1991, and the state amended the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination in 2006 to also prohibit discrimination based…
Workplace sexual harassment has both hidden and overt costs for both businesses and harassment victims. While most workplaces have policies in place to prevent sexual harassment from occurring on the job, it remains a pervasive problem at companies across New Jersey and the U.S. The costs of sexual harassment should encourage businesses to do more…
Under the federal Equal Pay Act, employers in New Jersey are required to pay men and women who have substantially similar jobs equally. This law covers all types of compensation, including salaries, stock options, insurance benefits, commissions, and bonuses. However, many employers fail to pay male and female employees equally, and women continue to earn…
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act or ADEA prohibits discrimination against workers over 40 based on their ages for employers with 20 or more employees. In New Jersey, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination or NJLAD provides more expansive protection to workers against age discrimination and protects adult workers of all ages. Despite the existence…
Sexual harassment in the workplace is an illegal form of discrimination. Unfortunately, however, many people are the victims of sexual harassment in the workplace, and some people are scared to file complaints with their companies when it occurs. To put an end to sexual harassment in your workplace, you will need to file an internal…
Many employers in New Jersey conduct background checks on their applicants, and some also perform background checks on their existing employees annually. While an employer has the right to check the backgrounds of its employees and applicants to see whether they have criminal histories, there are limits to doing so. Because of the fact that…
Sexual harassment in the workplace is prohibited under federal and state law. However, this type of conduct in the workplace is a prevalent problem. According to a study conducted by the EEOC in 2016, approximately 75% of people who experience workplace harassment do not tell their supervisors or employers. When surveyed anonymously, almost 60% of…
When you have suffered an injury at work or outside of work in New Jersey, you likely want to return to work as soon as possible. Before you can, your doctor might have to release you to return to work. If your doctor believes you should have some restrictions upon your return to your job,…