Blog

Many employees often have questions about their legal rights. They might wonder when, and for what reasons, they can be terminated from their current job. If they are terminated, they might wonder whether or not it was legal to do so. Many states follow at-will employment laws, which means in most cases, an employer can terminate an employee without reason. What Does At-Will Employment Mean? An at-will employment state essentially means that an employer can...

Employment discrimination encompasses a wide variety of different aspects. When an individual is treated differently or less favorably for any reason, discrimination in the workplace has taken place. Under laws enforced by the EEOC, there are worker protections that assist workers who have fallen victim to unfair treatment, harassment, denial of a reasonable workplace change, and many other factors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, workers have also faced discrimination in the workplace, a level of discrimination...

The state of New Jersey has been one of the strictest in terms of its stay at home orders during the global pandemic. Individuals who do not follow these orders will risk criminal charges, ranging from a warning to required jail time. Understanding New Jersey’s Stay-At-Home Rules New Jersey officers all over the state have been instructed to regulate the state’s stay-at-home orders. Some cities, like Newark, even have their own police task force to...

On April 14, 2020, Governor Murphy signed into law (Bill A3903) that allows remote notarial acts during Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declared by Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020. This should be of assistance when it comes to, among other things, executing wills and closing on real estate transactions. This allows notaries public and officers authorized to take oaths, affirmations, and affidavits to take acknowledgements from an individual remotely through the...

Civil Service Employees are dramatically affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Guidelines for State Employee Leave Time and Staffing have been posted on the Civil Service Commission website located at the following link: https://www.state.nj.us/csc/employees/covid.html. The current Civil Service Commission Guidelines as published are separated into several subsections. The first subsection allows for implementation of flextime programs, alternative workweek programs, and adjusted daily or shift hours upon approval of the Civil Service Commission Chair or designee. This...

The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses. Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards. For a top-line overview of the program click HERE If you’re...

We posted about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) after it was signed into law on March 18th. Today, it becomes effective. A quick refresher. The FFCRA applies to employees who have worked 30 or more days, and applies to employers who employ fewer than 500 employees. The law provides for paid time off for one of the following six reasons: the employee is subject to a federal, state or local quarantine...

All employers with less than five hundred employees are required to post this notice from the Department of Labor in a conspicuous place with other required workplace posters. Because so many employees are working remotely, we strongly suggest that you email the notice to all employees and if you have a company intranet, post it there as well. If you have any questions or concerns about compliance with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act please...

As you may have heard, the Senate passed a $2 trillion relief bill containing, among many other things, provisions for hundreds of billions for the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), which is intended to provide cash assistance through the SBA or through another program to qualifying small businesses. We will provide updates on this legislation as they come, but this is not the only source of relief for small businesses. Many states, including New Jersey, are...

It is a frightening time and we are all concerned with the health and safety of our family and ourselves. We are doing everything we can to avoid contracting the virus, including avoiding touching our faces and socially distancing ourselves. However, are we doing everything we can to prepare for the possibility that we may contract COVID-19? It is possible that you will require hospitalization, or even if you are able to stay home that...