HACKENSACK EMPLOYMENT LAW ATTORNEY

Common Types of Employment Law Cases

There are a number of legal issues that fall under employment law litigation. Some of the more common cases involve:

• Workplace Discrimination: Also known as employment discrimination, this is when an employer engages in an unlawful bias against a prospective or current employee.
• Hostile Work Environment: Employees have a right to work in an environment that allows them to perform their employment duties without experiencing intimidation, discrimination, abuse, bullying, or other harassment. An employee who cannot perform their job due to these conditions may have grounds to file a hostile work environment claim.
• Wrongful Termination: New Jersey is an “at-will employment” state, which means an employer can typically terminate an employee at any time they want, but they cannot violate any federal or state laws in doing so. If an employer terminates an employee due to their membership in a protected class or because they engaged in actions that are protected, the termination could be deemed wrongful termination.
• Equal Pay for Equal Work: The New Jersey Equal Pay Act (NJEPA) creates additional protection under state law for employees. It requires employers to pay female employees the same amount as male employees who perform the same jobs and contribute the same level of professional expertise.
• Unpaid Wages or Overtime: Wage disputes are common employment law claims. A standard workweek is defined as 40 hours of work. Any work beyond that typically entitles an employee to receive overtime pay, unless they are exempt or classified under the allowed salaried positions. Some employers, unfortunately, fail to pay employees for overtime, violating both state and federal laws. Misclassifying an employee to keep from paying overtime is also covered under this section.