Essex County Employment Law Attorneys

Essex County, New Jersey is centrally located in the New York metropolitan area. Like many of the New Jersey counties near New York City, this region is home to some of the most populated and diverse municipalities. Eastern cities such as Newark, East Orange, Bloomfield, and Belleville are home to many multicultural working-class communities. Towns in western Essex like, Montclair, West Orange, and Maplewood, tend to be more affluent and suburban.

All New Jersey workers have important labor rights and freedoms. Our Essex County employment law attorneys at Burnham Douglass have over 70 years of combined experience protecting the rights and best interests of workers. We have had successful results in a wide range of employment law areas.

Discrimination

Workplace discrimination comes in many forms and is prohibited under both federal and state laws. Employers are not allowed to discriminate against an employee in a “protected class,” yet it happens every day in a variety of workplaces. Many cases of discrimination go unreported due to their overwhelming and intimidating impact. Our employment law attorneys are ready to act on your behalf and can help build your case successfully.

Discrimination in the workplace can include:

Age discrimination: When adverse action is taken against a worker who is over the age of 40 years, such as an employer only hiring younger employees, an older employee not given a raise or promotion, or an employee being pushed to retire, it is considered age discrimination.
Disability discrimination: Disability discrimination happens when an individual is discriminated against, not hired, terminated, or harassed in the workplace because of a disability.
Race discrimination: Discrimination based on race occurs when an employee or prospective employee is not hired or promoted, is harassed, or not given a raise based on their race.

Employment Contracts

Many employees are asked to sign a contract when first hired, based on either the employee’s individual role or a boilerplate used for all company employees. There may also be an oral agreement or no agreement at all; in such instances, the behavior of both employer and employee can be treated as an implied contract.

If the terms and conditions of your employment contract have been violated by an employer, it is crucial to retain an experienced attorney. Our employment law attorneys can help review and negotiate contracts on your behalf, resolve contract disputes, and advise on non-compete agreements.

Hostile Work Environment

Repeatedly harassing or offending an employee with unwanted physical or verbal actions creates a hostile work environment. New Jersey workers are protected from such abuse under federal and state laws. Anyone at work can create a hostile work environment, including other employees. An employee who experiences continued harassment can hold their employer responsible if they do not take corrective action to stop it.

Hostile work environments include offenses such as sexual harassment, offensive language, physical threats, or discrimination against a protected class. If you are dealing with a hostile work environment lawsuit, you should first report the problem to your employer. The next step is to consult with an experienced employment law attorney about your legal options.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment can happen at work in two ways. Unwanted touching, assault, and appropriate comments are just a few examples of how sexual harassment creates a hostile work environment. Quid pro quo occurs when one employee requests sexual favors from another in exchange for an employment advantage, such as a promotion or increase in salary.

If you are experiencing sexual harassment at work, you should directly ask the offender to stop their behavior. If the sexual harassment continues, you must report it to your supervisor and document the complaint. Equally important is reaching out to a knowledgeable employment law attorney as soon as possible. Our skilled and dedicated attorneys can help you navigate the legal process and strengthen your case.

Wage & Hours

Federal and state laws make it illegal for an employer to violate an employee’s right to earned wages. Many wage disputes in New Jersey involve an employer withholding earned pay, failing to pay earned overtime, or neglecting to pay earned bonuses.

Whistleblower Retaliation

Employees who see illegal policies or activities taking place at their workplace are protected after reporting such unlawful actions. Employers are not allowed to take negative action against a whistleblower; however, retaliation can come in many forms. An employer who retaliates may reduce the whistleblower’s hours, demote the worker, terminate their employment, or exclude them from work meetings. These actions are not permitted under New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA). This whistleblower law protects employees who wish to speak out against an employer’s unlawful behavior.

Wrongful Termination

New Jersey is an at-will employment state, which means New Jersey employers can terminate a working relationship without reason. However, they cannot fire an employee for unlawful reasons, such as discrimination or retaliation for reporting unlawful actions at work. Workers may not be terminated simply because they reported sexual harassment, because of their age, or because they took FMLA leave.

Why Should You Hire Burnham Douglass for Your Employment Law Matter?

At Burnham Douglass, we recognize that every individual’s legal matter is unique, and we handle each case in a personalized and efficient manner. Our Essex County employment law attorneys prioritize good communication and remain accessible to all our clients.

Our legal team always keeps the best interests of our clients in mind while striving to build a formidable case with successful results. We have decades of experience providing top-rated services in complex employment law matters.