The Case In a recent retaliation case, I represented a client who had received unfair treatment after reporting a superior. My client, a sergeant for the Plainfield Police Department, was demoted in 2010, a year after reporting what he believed was an attempt by public safety director, to meet with a prostitute. The sergeant found a three-page email printout in a police car that showed the police director solicited prostitution during work hours. My client reported the emai

Employment discrimination can occur just as easily in the public sector as it can at private companies. Though discrimination can take place at any time, it often occurs during the hiring or promotion process. Less qualified applicants may be hired or promoted due to bias in the department. Such discrimination is unlawful in New Jersey when it is based on any of the following factors: Race Color Nationality National origin Ancestry Creed Sex (including childbirth and pregnanc

So you’re an employer and you’ve received an anonymous complaint. It could be from a member of the public, or from one of your employees speaking anonymously about a coworker. It may give you little to go on, and provide no information on how to follow up for more information or to even resolve the issue. What are you supposed to do with that? In a workplace where tensions run high and certain competitive types might even stoop to backstabbing to get that next promotion or r

New Jersey Wage Discrimination Laws For many Americans, talking about your salary in the workplace can be an uncomfortable experience at best—but at worst; it can jeopardize your position within the company. If an employer takes actions against an employee for merely discussing their wages and preparing to fight for a higher salary, this can be seen as illegal in the eyes of the law, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In recent years, this has become a particul

We are living in a world few could have imagined 50 years ago. Picture a scene from Mad Men: A busy Manhattan office flowing with white males. They all dressed the same, grew up the same way, and saw the world more or less alike. In this twenty-first century, that is no longer the case. The world has evolved and the workplace must reflect that. We are at the beginning of a new millennium where speech is extremely important. So as employers, humans, friends, or strangers, we

Federal and State laws require employers to provide their employees with a safe workplace that is free from harassment and unfair treatment. However, discrimination in the workplace occurs in many situations, but it isn’t always overt. Subtle discriminatory actions are common and it can be hard to prove. Employees often sense something is not right but don’t want to point it out. The environment already feels hostile and you don’t want to make enemies at work. But, are you be

Both the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) and the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provide the opportunity for employees to take unpaid leave for certain medical and family reasons for up to 12 weeks per years without fear of losing their jobs. While these two laws do have some differences, they largely provide the same protections for employees. However, there are some mistakes that employees can make that may jeopardize their ability to use FMLA time and leave

Getting to America under the immigration process can be long and arduous, but unfortunately, the difficulties migrants face don’t always stop with citizenship. In a newly filed federal court case, a Pemberton man has issued a lawsuit against his former employer, stating that while he worked at the Wawa, he was discriminated against for several years, and then fired and wrongfully arrested for stealing because he spoke up about the offensive actions of his superiors. Initial

Going through law school is similar to going to medical school; you learn the basics and the fundamentals of practice. Future attorneys, however, do not have to declare a specialty—even after graduation. Lawyers everywhere receive their Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from their law schools before spending months studying for the bar exam. Upon passing the bar, they become licensed to practice in a specific state, or multiple states if they sit for the bar in other locations. De

The workplace is where employees spend the majority of their day, often with the same people. Though employees may get along, there can still be issues regarding discrimination in the workplace, especially since everyone has their own thoughts and opinions about the world. These differences can ultimately lead to conflict and might be expressed through the unfair treatment of someone based on their intrinsic characteristics. There are several common discrimination categorie