By: Sergio D. Simoes On March 6, 2014, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the “EEOC”) released new guidelines on how federal employment discrimination law, specifically Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, applies to religious dress and grooming practices, and what steps employers can take to meet their…
Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C. Firm News & Events
Gender Equality in The Payment of Wages in New Jersey
In September of 2012, Governor Christie signed a new law requiring every employer in New Jersey that employs 50 or more employees to post a notice that was prepared by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and that addresses gender equality in the payment of wages and…
IRS Adopts a Uniform Policy: All Legal Same-Sex Marriages Recognized for Federal Tax Purposes
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent landmark decision in , the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) ruled that same-sex marriages will be recognized for federal tax purposes, even if the married couple is domiciled in a state that does not recognize…
Withdrawal Liability Primer
What is Withdrawal Liability? Withdrawal liability only accrues when the employer has contributed to a defined benefit (DB) plan and the DB plan is not fully funded. It is equal to the employer’s share of a DB plan’s Unfunded Vested Benefits (UVB). Liability is triggered upon complete, partial or mass…
New Jersey Becomes the Latest State to Extend Additional Leave Rights to Victims of Domestic Violence and Their Families
Employment Law Newsletter For several decades New Jersey employers with 50 or more employees have been grappling with the administration of employee leave rights – 12 weeks in any 12- or 24- month period – under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the New Jersey Family Leave…
The Supreme Court Eases Burden for Retaliation Claims Under the LAD
By: Kathleen M. Connelly By unanimous decision in the recent case of (July 17, 2012), the New Jersey Supreme Court extended greater protection to employees blowing the whistle on suspected violations of law in the workplace. While the decision may have some positive implications for employers, several aspects of the…
Proposed Legislation Could Change the Competitive Playing Field in New Jersey
New Jersey Courts have consistently enforced covenants not to compete (also known as restrictive covenants) contained within an employment agreement. Those covenants have traditionally been used by an employer to prevent an employee from leaving his/her employ and immediately soliciting the employer’s customers and/or clients – – many of whom…
DOL Issues New FMLA Forms and Poster
Employment Law Newsletter As illustrated in a related article in this issue, employers who fail to comply with the FMLA’s various notice requirements may land an employer in court. Although employers are free to craft their own notices so long as they are compliant with regulatory requirements, the DOL has…
Appeals Court Silences Teacher’s Claim That Her Facebook Post Referring to Students as “Future Criminals” was a Violation of Her First Amendment Rights
Employment Law Newsletter In , the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court recently upheld Jennifer O’Brien’s termination for conduct unbecoming a teacher by posting the following comments on Facebook: “I’m not a teacher – I’m a warden for future criminals!” and “They had a scared straight program in…
DOL Clarifies Leave Rights Under the FMLA
Employment Law Newsletter Twenty years after its passage, most employers are aware that the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides qualifying employees with up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for varying circumstances. However, employers may not be aware that the U.S. Department of Labor recently issued new rules…