Disparities in wages and salaries remain a major form of workplace discrimination. New Jersey employment laws have tried to address this issue, but it can be difficult to identify wage discrimination, especially when employers attempt to prevent discussion about wages and salaries. The New Jersey Legislature passed a law in…
Articles Posted in Employment Discrimination
How AI Can Cause Inadvertent Disability Discrimination in New Jersey Workplaces
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 protects workers against discrimination because of injuries, illnesses, and other conditions that impair their daily lives. The statute prohibits employers from discrimination based on disability and requires them to provide reasonable accommodations to help employees with disabilities perform their jobs. Compliance with…
Third Circuit Allows Religious Discrimination Claim Involving Vaccine Mandate to Proceed
Both private and public employers have obligations to their employees under New Jersey employment laws. These include obligations to pay a minimum wage and to maintain a workplace reasonably free from discrimination and harassment. Public employers, such as state and local agencies and officials, may also have a duty to…
What the Four-Fifths Rule Means in New Jersey Employment Discrimination Cases Involving AI
Employment discrimination on the basis of factors like race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability is unlawful under New Jersey employment law. Broadly speaking, courts have identified two types of unlawful employment discrimination: discriminatory intent and disparate impact. Cases based on discriminatory intent often involve overt bias. In…
Third Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Plaintiff’s Racial Discrimination Case
In a recent ruling, the Third Circuit upheld a summary judgment in favor of Bryn Mawr Trust Company (BMT) in a lawsuit filed by former employee, Russo. Russo, who is Black, alleged that her supervisor, Therese Trainer, subjected her to racial discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment. Ultimately, the…
Federal Court Dismisses Attempt to Stop New EEOC Rule
A new rule from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) seeks to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), but it has faced opposition. The PWFA fills an important gap in federal pregnancy discrimination law. New Jersey employment law has long required employers to provide reasonable accommodations for workers who…
EEOC Settles Lawsuits Against New Jersey Employers Over Title VII Data Collection
Federal and New Jersey employment laws protect workers from discrimination on the basis of factors like race, sex, and religion. State law includes more protected categories than federal law, but both statutes give rather broad authority to government agencies to investigate alleged unlawful practices by employers. At the federal level,…
How a U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Could Affect Title VII Discrimination Claims
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in April 2024 that addresses an important question about what plaintiffs must prove in employment discrimination claims. Federal and New Jersey employment laws do not expressly state that a plaintiff alleging discrimination must prove that they suffered significant harm. Many courts, however, have…
New Jersey Jury Awards $1 Million in National Origin Discrimination Lawsuit
Discrimination based on a person’s national origin violates New Jersey employment laws. This includes discrimination in decisions related to hiring, promotions, job duties, benefits, firing, and other features of employment. It also includes harassment based on national origin, such as when unwelcome remarks, jokes, slurs, or other conduct creates a…
New Jersey Bills Would Regulate the Use of AI in Employment Decisions
Employers have begun relying on various artificial intelligence (AI) tools to streamline the hiring process and other aspects of the employment relationship. While the marketing for these tools sometimes claims that they can perform certain tasks better than humans, experience demonstrates that they are not free of many human biases.…