South Jersey Employment Discrimination Lawyers
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD)
By strictly enforcing the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), New Jersey has become a leader in protecting the civil rights of its residents and people who work in the state. According to the NJLAD, it is illegal to discriminate against a person in employment decisions due to their age, race, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, marital status or disability. Unlike other states, New Jersey regularly reviews and makes changes to the law based on changes in society, keeping the law current and relevant. New Jersey employment discrimination lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates understand the complexities of employment discrimination issues and will advocate for those who have been affected by unfair treatment.
NJLAD Protection for Employees and Public Accommodations
New Jersey takes employment discrimination very seriously and has one of the most comprehensive statutes protecting employees against discrimination. The protections involved in NJLAD include protection for employees in the workplace and for public accommodations. This means that an owner, manager or employee of a place that offers goods or services to the public – like a restaurant, hotel, doctor’s office, theater, or camp – is prohibited from directly or indirectly withholding accommodations or services from an individual because of his or her race, sex, creed, color, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
Exceptions to this aspect of the law include dressing rooms or gymnasiums, which are restricted to a specific gender. Also, schools that are religious institutions may not fall under the provisions of the LAD due to the distinctly private nature of the institution. Conversely, it is against the law for a private club to deny membership for an individual on the basis of their race, creed, color, nationality, marital status, sex, or sexual orientation.
Filing a Discrimination Complaint
If an individual feels that they have been discriminated against, he or she may file a complaint with the Division of Civil Rights at New Jersey Attorney General’s office. An employee may also file a complaint with the Federal Government through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In addition, an employee may seek individual legal counsel in order to determine the best action to pursue in terms of damages, reinstatement and attorney fees. Whether filing a claim on the state or federal level, it is crucial to get the advice of an experienced employment discrimination lawyer in New Jersey.
Criteria for Successful Claims Under the NJLAD
- The employee is in a protected class, like age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, etc.
- The employee has been meeting the expectations of their employer.
- The employee was suspended, demoted or terminated.
- The negative action against the employee was related to his or her protected status, and the employee was replaced by an individual not in the employee’s protected class.
Interpreting these claims can be a complex, time-consuming process, one that is best handled by an experienced South Jersey employment lawyer who can provide the appropriate legal counsel.
Title VII Civil Rights Act of 1964
Like the NJLAD, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides federal protection to employees from being discriminated against on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion on a federal level. The law applies to employers with at least 15 employees, including federal, state and local governments, as well as private and public colleges and universities, and labor organizations.
Title VII forbids discrimination in any aspect of employment, including:
- Hiring and firing
- Compensation or assignment of employees
- Transfer, promotion, layoff or recall
- Job advertisements
- Recruitment
- Testing
- Use of company facilities
- Training programs
- Pay, retirement plans, and disability leave
- Other terms of employment
While Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and NJLAD were passed decades ago, discrimination in the workplace continues to be a serious problem. If you have been discriminated against in the workplace, it is important to know your rights, how to file a complaint, and the steps you can take to protect yourself from further discrimination.
South Jersey Employment Discrimination Lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates Advocate for Victims of Discrimination
If you feel that you have been the victim of discrimination in the workplace, South Jersey employment discrimination lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates can help. We have a thorough understanding of the complexities of New Jersey employment discrimination. Our workplace discrimination lawyers in New Jersey will examine the details of your case and provide knowledgeable, thorough legal representation every step of the way. Contact the New Jersey law offices of Sidney L. Gold & Associates at 215-569-1999 to schedule a free consultation or contact us online.
We handle all types of New Jersey discrimination claims including age discrimination, disability discrimination, sex orientation discrimination, gender discrimination, national origin discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, race discrimination, religious discrimination, retaliation in the workplace, sexual harassment, workplace harassment, wrongful termination, hostile work environment and retaliation against whistleblowers.