Supreme Court May Hear Groundbreaking Workplace Discrimination Case
When Jameka Evans went to work as a security guard at Georgia Regional Hospital in Savannah, she did not anticipate that being gay would be an issue. But she quickly learned she was wrong. During the 15 months that she worked there she says that she was harassed for being...
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Are Labor Law and Employment Law the Same Thing?
As an employee, you have certain rights, both within the workplace and having to do with your relationship with your employer. Those rights are set in place by federal, state and local laws. Though most people are aware of the existence of these laws and can sense or know outright...
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Noncompete Clauses Are a Growing Concern for Employees – Part II
The New York Times recently told the tale of a factory manager who’d signed a noncompete contract in 2007, only to find that the agreement effectively prohibited him from working in the only industry he’d ever known, anywhere else in the United States. The story is a remarkable example of...
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Noncompete Clauses Are a Growing Concern for Employees
This is part I of a story we are passionate about from the NY Times documenting the growing concern of workers and noncompete clauses. Have you ever been asked to sign a noncompete clause as part of an employment contract? Though these legal documents were once used exclusively to protect...
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The Steps To Follow in the Unemployment Process
Unemployment compensation is a benefit meant to tide workers over when they’re out of work through no fault of their own, such as occurs in a layoff or when an employer shuts its doors. This money can be a financial lifeline that bridges the gap between jobs. If you’ve lost...
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New Jersey Appellate Court Hands Workers a Win in Unemployment Benefits Case
Over the last several years, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has taken a number of steps attempting to introduce new language to the laws surrounding unemployment benefits. Many of these have been viewed as unnecessarily harsh, and the department has been accused of purposely limiting terminated...
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How to File a Workplace Discrimination Case in NJ
The State of New Jersey has one of the most robust anti-discrimination laws in the entire country. The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) offers protection against termination, harassment, and unfair hiring or employment practices to individuals in many diverse classifications, including but not limited to race, age, gender, disability,...
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Jury Hits Walmart with $5.5 M Penalty for Retaliating Against Employee Complaint
Federal law prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, and more. But the laws go beyond simply saying that this type of discrimination can’t take place: it also creates a remedy for those who complain about discrimination and are then punished for doing so....
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New Jersey Town Settles Sex Discrimination Lawsuit with Female Police Officer
A female police officer who was terminated in April of 2014 has accepted a $1.2 million settlement offer by the City of Passaic, New Jersey. The offer came during the third week of Odalys Rastatter’s civil trial in Superior Court in Paterson in which she charged sexual discrimination and retaliatory...
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Hilton Hotel Chain Facing Discrimination Charge in New Jersey
The Attorney General for the state of New Jersey has filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against Hilton Hotels after learning that one of the chain’s budget hotels, Homewood Suites, had been paying a female employee less than they paid male employees for the exact same job. One of the males...
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What to Watch Out for in Employment Law in 2017
Employment law changes rapidly. Regulations that have been long discussed and litigated are often rolled out with the dawn of a new year, and 2017 is no different. Most of the new laws impacting employers and employees are federally mandated, but the state of New Jersey is also making a...
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(EEOC) releases a report detailing how many charges of workplace discrimination were filed in 2016
At the beginning of every new year, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) releases a report detailing how many charges of workplace discrimination were filed with them in the previous year. For 2016, that number totaled 97,443, which means that 2016 was the second year in a row...
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Employment Discrimination Against the Unemployed
The state of New Jersey is considered one of the most employee-friendly states in the country when it comes to fighting against discrimination. The state has a robust anti-discrimination law known as NJLAD, or New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, which identifies discrimination against those who fall into a long list...
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Will You Be Eligible for Unemployment in New Jersey?
Losing your job can put you into financial jeopardy. If you are no longer receiving a paycheck, you may find yourself unable to keep up with your bills or even to pay for basic necessities. Unemployment benefits are insurance - you pay unemployment insurance premiums out of each paycheck. This...
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Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Filed by Campus Police Officer Against University of Pennsylvania After Beard Raises Issues
Joseph Lewis is a campus police officer for the University of Pennsylvania. More accurately he was a campus police officer for the university until he lost his job in 2016. Lewis is black, and he has filed a federal racial discrimination lawsuit against the esteemed school. He is charging that...
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Woman’s Pregnancy Discrimination Claim Raises Interesting Issues
A Pennsylvania woman recently filed a discrimination lawsuit against her employer, charging them with a variety of discriminations in relation to her pregnancy. Though she did not win her case based on a variety of legal complications, the facts of the case are still very important for those who are...
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Three Employees File Discrimination Lawsuit Against Pizza Hut
A Pizza Hut area manager in the state of New Jersey is being sued by three employees for discrimination and retaliation, and the lawsuit against her also names the chain itself for violations of both state and federal laws. The suit is being filed by three Egyptian-American employees who cite...
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The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination
Employees often feel that they are powerless against their employer, that is absolutely not true. An employment lawyer can provide you with legal guidance, advice, and representation to ensure that you are being treated fairly and that your rights are not being violated. Here are some important signs that it’s...
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Carlson Sexual Harassment Suit Ends with $20 Million Settlement and an Apology
It’s been just two months since Fox News host Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment against news boss Roger Ailes in the state Superior Court of New Jersey. Since that suit was filed the network took swift investigative action that not only confirmed Carlson’s claims, but also found that some...
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Employee Sues Wal-mart After Being Demoted for Religious Observance
Discrimination in the workplace can be based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, age, and more. It also can arise after an extended period where no discrimination was present. A case that was recently filed against retail giant Wal-Mart is one such example. According to a complaint filed in...
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Multiple Claims Allege Workplace Discrimination by Florida College
Florida A&M University is a historically black college located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school’s police department, which hired a new police chief in 2013, is being named as the source of rampant discrimination against older employees and white employees, and multiple lawsuits have been filed against the school’s board of...
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Ailes’ Out from Fox News as Sex Harassment Case Takes an Unusual Turn
In the past couple of weeks Fox News forced chairman and CEO Roger Ailes from the network in response to sexual harassment charges filed by Gretchen Carlson and echoed by many other female employees. But the lawsuit takes an unusual turn in that rather than naming her employer, the claim...
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Sexual Harassment Suit Against Fox News CEO Puts Celebrity Face on Everyday Occurrence
People who closely follow the news – and who are fans of the show Fox & Friends – were shocked last week when popular host Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against Fox News’ Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes. For those who have themselves been victims of...
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How Social Media Affects the Workplace
Last week, People Magazine ran an article titled “20 Tales of Employees Who Were Fired Because of Social Media Posts.” The lead-in provided a list that included the story of a firefighter claiming that his house was on fire then being tagged in a photo of himself sitting in a...
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Dealing with Workplace Discrimination in NJ
While our nation has taken great strides to protect us against discrimination, it still occurs in many areas of life, including in the workplace. Fortunately, there are national and state laws that protect employers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,...
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When Should I Call an Employment Lawyer?
Were you mistreated in the workplace? Perhaps you were sexually harassed by your boss. Or, maybe your employer has failed to comply with a contractual promise. If you've been mistreated in the workplace, an employment lawyer in South Jersey can help. Employment lawyers protect the rights of employees and can...
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Were You Wrongfully Terminated from Your Job?
Do you believe you were wrongfully fired from your job? In most states, including New Jersey, employment is "at will", meaning an employer or employee can end the working relationship at any time and for any non-discriminatory reason or no reason at all. However, there are some exceptions to this...
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When Does It Count as Sexual Harassment?
Both women and men can be sexually harassed at the workplace. Harassment comes in many forms, from the most subtle comments to far more lewd behavior. However, many individuals who find themselves feeling harassed worry that no one will believe them—or worse, that there is nothing they can do. If...
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4 Important Facts about New Jersey Unemployment Claims
The system for filing New Jersey unemployment claims is complicated and claims can be turned down for many reasons. That leaves a lot of unemployed workers thinking unemployment is not worth their time—but this could not be further from the truth. Here are four vital facts you should know about...
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Flu Vaccine Objections and Work Termination: Exploring the Issues
Many healthcare providers across the country now require that their employees receive flu vaccinations in order to work. This has led to an overall increase in the number of workers receiving the vaccine each season. According to the CDC, "Early season flu vaccination coverage was higher among health care personnel...
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Jury Awards Former Employee Of Roscoe’s Chicken N’ Waffles $1.6M In Race Discrimination Suit
A jury has recently awarded an ex-employee of Roscoe's Chicken N' Waffles in Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, over $1 million in damages. Daniel Beasley, an African American man, sued the restaurant chain for racial discrimination and wrongful termination. Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n Waffles is a soul food chain...
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UMDNJ Whistleblower Cases Cost Rutgers Nearly $2 Million in Settlements
Rutgers University recently settled several major whistleblower cases that were inherited with the merger of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). Rutgers agreed to pay out nearly $2 million in settlements to former high-level administrators. These confidential agreements put an end to two long-running lawsuits that...
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4 Reasons Not to Sign that Severance Agreement
A severance agreement can be a good thing—but not always as good as it looks at first glance. Many employees will take a severance package for the immediate money it promises, only to regret it later as they see how it negatively affects their job hunt or independent work. If...
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Representing Yourself Can Be Very Expensive!
On July 20, 2015, the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, upheld a lower court ruling which assessed a self-represented Plaintiff $191,652.44. Ronald L. Fulton had sued his employer for wrongful termination. Mr. Fulton choose not to have an attorney and to represent himself. The Court issued numerous rulings against...
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Mandatory Workplace Vaccines: What Are Your Rights in New Jersey?
Healthcare workers and other employees around the country are being told they must get vaccines or lose their jobs. Rights and options vary depending on the specific situation. Mandatory Flu Vaccines as Company Policy More and more health care employers are requiring that employees receive a mandatory flu vaccine as a...
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The Basics of Qualifying for Unemployment Benefits in NJ
The loss of a job can have a devastating effect on people and their families, particularly in the current economy. Losing a job can mean facing several issues while trying to qualify for unemployment benefits. If you lose your job, it is important to apply for unemployment benefits immediately –...
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