Progressive discipline is a bedrock principle in New Jersey civil service law. However, while flexible, progressive discipline has its limits. The New Jersey Supreme Court recently issued a precedential employment law decision examining when progressive discipline allows for termination of a law enforcement officer’s employment for even a first offense…
New Jersey Lawyers Blog
New Jersey Tenure Decisions at Private, as Well as Public Colleges and Universities, Examined by Appeals Court Decision
Under New Jersey employment law, tenure provides college, university and school faculty great protection. However, this protection is not unlimited. A New Jersey appeals court explained how courts should review decisions to terminate a tenured college professor in the case of Chee Ng v. Fairleigh Dickinson University. Background Dr.…
Federal Appeals Court Clarifies Standard for Proving Harm Caused by Discrimination
New Jersey employment law prohibits pregnancy discrimination and disability discrimination. The United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently examined the standard employees must meet to prove pregnancy discrimination and disability discrimination in the case of Peifer v. Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. Peifer’s Employment with the Board…
New Jersey Employment Law Decision Examines Suspension and Revocation of Teaching Certificates
New Jersey employment law requires teachers and other public education employees to hold teaching certificates, or other certificates as appropriate to the position, as a prerequisite to holding their job. A New Jersey appeals court recently examined the legal principles involved when the New Jersey State Board of Examiners determines…
New Protections of New Jersey Wage and Hour Law and New Jersey Wage Payment Law Apply Prospectively, Supreme Court Rules
New Jersey employment law affords significant wage and hour protections to employees through the New Jersey Wage and Hour Law and the New Jersey Wage Payment Law. Both laws were significantly strengthened by amendments in 2019, adding additional penalties, recovery of attorneys fees, enhanced damages, and a longer, six-year statute…
State Cannot Prohibit Government Employee From Discussing Investigations of Harassment and Discrimination Complaints
The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination and harassment in the workplace. The New Jersey Civil Service Commission published a regulation incorporating this requirement. However, in the case of Savchenko v. State of New Jersey, the New Jersey Supreme Court found that a portion of this regulation which requested…
New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Non-disparagement Agreements in Settlement of Discrimination Lawsuits
New Jersey employment lawsuits alleging discrimination, harassment or retaliation are often resolved in settlement agreements. The New Jersey Supreme Court recently clarified the permissible scope of non-disparagement agreements in those settlement agreements in the case of Savage v. Township of Neptune. Background Christine Savage was a police officer with…
New Jersey Civil Service Law Allows for Removal of Applicant from Hiring List for Negative Employment History, Appeals Court Says
New Jersey civil service law provides employees with an effective avenue for appealing adverse employment decisions to the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. However, in the case of Matter of Trejo, Police Officer and Union City, a New Jersey appeals court held that an employee may be removed from a…
Non-Compete Agreements Would be Abolished Under New FTC Rule
New Jersey employment law has generally upheld non-compete (or non-competition) agreements provided they met certain requirements aimed at allowing employees to earn a living. Non-compete agreements have been much vilified by pro-employee groups, and much supported by pro-employer groups. However, the United States Federal Trade Commission has issued a rule…
New Employment Law Regulation Makes Many More Employees Eligible for Overtime
The Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor has issued a new regulation vastly increasing the number of employees who are entitled to overtime. Background Both Federal and New Jersey employment law both require that employees must be paid one and a half times their regular…