Your employer should not punish you because you reported workplace harassment or participated in a harassment investigation. But not every negative event after a report is automatically unlawful retaliation. The facts matter, including what you reported, who knew about it, what changed afterward, wh
Being fired after complaining to HR is not automatically unlawful retaliation. It may raise legal concerns when the complaint involved protected workplace rights and the firing appears connected to that complaint. In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the strongest questions are what you reported, who kne
Do not rush to sign a severance agreement after being fired. A severance offer may provide money, benefits, or a smoother exit, but it may also ask you to give up legal claims, accept restrictions, keep information confidential, or meet deadlines you do not fully understand. In New Jersey and Pennsy
If your employer refuses to pay overtime, start by saving your time records, paystubs, schedules, messages, job duties, and any explanation the employer gave. Many employees who are not exempt from overtime must receive overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a workweek, but overtime dispu
If your employer reduced your pay without warning, first find out whether the change applies only to future work or affects wages, commissions, overtime, PTO, or pay already earned. A pay cut is not automatically illegal, but it may raise legal concerns when it affects earned wages, minimum wage, ov
Published by: Swartz Swidler LLC Last updated: 06/26/2026 Jurisdiction note: This article is for employees in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and South Jersey. Forced resignation and constructive discharge claims are highly fact-specific and may depend on discrimination, retaliation, harassment, leave rights, wage issues, contracts, severance terms, and applicable state or federal law. This article is…
Published by: Swartz Swidler LLC Last updated: 06/19/2026 Jurisdiction note: This article is for employees in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and South Jersey. Pay reduction laws can vary based on the state, pay agreement, timing of the reduction, wage rate, exempt status, contract terms, and the facts of the case. This article is for general…
Published by: Swartz Swidler LLC Last updated: 06/12/2026 Jurisdiction note: This article is for employees in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and South Jersey. Severance agreement rights and deadlines can vary based on the agreement, the employee’s age, the employer, the reason for separation, and applicable federal, state, or local law. This article is for general…
If you reported discrimination, filed a complaint, requested leave, or refused to participate in something illegal — and your employer responded by demoting you, cutting your hours, giving you negative reviews, or firing you — you may have a retaliation claim. But having experienced retaliation and being able to prove it are two different things.…
Your employer put “salaried” on your offer letter. You work 50, 55, sometimes 60 hours a week. And when you ask about overtime, you get the same answer: salaried employees don’t get overtime. That may be wrong. Being paid a salary does not automatically exempt you from overtime. Under federal law and New Jersey and…