The New Jersey Employment Law Firm Blog

May 17, 2011

Jersey City Housekeeper Alleges Discrimination By New York City Billionaire

A Jersey City woman, who has been a housekeeper for 25 years to many of New York City’s rich and famous, alleges she was denied a job based on her Filipino heritage, The New York Daily News reports.

Discrimination based on one’s national origin has no place in New Jersey, New York or elsewhere in this country. If you feel someone has refused you a job, promotion or duty that you are otherwise qualified for based on your nationality, contact New Jersey Employment Lawyers.The woman filed a complaint with the New York City Commission on Human Rights , which has opened a probe into the allegations.

According to the news story, the woman applied to be the head housekeeper for a Russian-born billionaire, considered to be one of the wealthiest men in the United States. She cleaned the fireplace and vacuumed floors as an interview at his $50 million Manhattan home.

But she later discovered that the man’s butler had written “No Philippines, thanks” in an email to a man who was hired to place domestic help with the rich and famous. The billionaire’s spokesman denied any bias, saying the woman is a good worker, but not a good fit for the family.

America is likely the world’s most diverse nation and while that is a point of pride, it can also lead to discrimination. That discrimination can lead to a violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the New York City Human Rights Law or the New York Human Rights Law.

These laws are designed to protect people from harsh and illegal decisions made by employers. If you feel you have been denied a job or a promotion, or have been harassed or paid less than co-workers, and it adversely affected your career or employment, you may need to take legal action.

Often, this type of discrimination is subtle or happens behind closed doors, but an investigation into the conduct can reveal facts you may not have known but had believed to be true all along. By hiring the right New Jersey employment law attorney, you will find out all the facts you need to know to pursue justice.
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May 13, 2011

Age Discrimination Laws in New Jersey Give You the Right to Be Treated Equally

by Resnick Law Group, P.C.

Often, older adults can do a job as good as or better than younger co-workers. But sadly enough, companies often won’t hire them or pass them over for promotions and pay raises based on potential health costs or other unlawful reasons.

If this has happened to you or a loved one, New Jersey Employment Lawyers are here to stand by your side and fight for your rights.Older employees bring valuable experience to the company that others may not. And while companies cling to unfair stereotypes, such as that older employees have health problems, take more time off or are slow to learn new technology and policies, these are unlawful if they apply them to the hiring and firing of senior workers.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 protects workers and job applicants 40 and older from discrimination based on age. This law makes sure job notices and advertisements, apprenticeship programs and benefits don’t discriminate on the basis of a person’s age.

What rights do you have in New Jersey?

It is against the law for an employer to treat you differently or harass you based on your age:

When you apply for a job
During the course of your employment
In firing you from your job
In forcing you to retire

In general, all jobs must be open to people of all ages. A company can’t refuse to interview or employ people because they are above a certain age. But there are some exceptions. Companies aren’t required to hire someone under 18 or older than 70. Companies can also advertise for a job where age is an essential and relevant part of the job.

But you have the right not to be harassed on the job because of your age and you should be trained, promoted and get other work benefits like other employees. For more specific information, check The New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety.
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May 7, 2011

New Jersey Employment Laws Aim to Protect You From Harassment and Discrimination

by Resnick Law Group, P.C.

Many New Jersey workers don’t know what laws protect them from harassment and discrimination at work.

And while, hopefully, you don’t have to worry about those issues because your bosses and company follow the law, it often happens that employees’ rights are violated. That’s when you’ll need to consult with New Jersey Employment Lawyers to determine the best course of action to combat these injustices.The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination makes in unlawful to treat people differently based on many factors, including race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, physical ability and age.

The state allows for people to file discrimination complaints with the Division on Civil Rights, which must be done within 180 days of the alleged act of discrimination. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission also can help employees by providing support and direction in discrimination claims, and requires a filing within 300 days of the act of discrimination.

While filing complaints with state and federal agencies can be helpful in your quest for justice, they are often slow-moving and have thousands of cases to review, moving your case sometimes to the bottom of the pile. Another reason why it’s a good idea to consult with an experienced New Jersey discrimination law attorney.

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination also prohibits harassment based on race, sex or nationality. That means you can’t be subjected to unwelcome sexual advances, touching or sexually explicit materials in the workplace. This area of harassment comes in many forms, but it’s usually obvious to the person being harassed. Don’t be intimidated by this pressure and succumb to the person doing the harassing. Consult with an experienced employment attorney capable of fighting what is going on in your office or at your job.

While New Jersey law prohibits employment discrimination, it has become fairly common. Statistics from the EEOC indicate that in the last fiscal year, there were nearly 100,000 claims of discrimination. That’s an increase of 24 percent since 2000. Nearly 65 percent were based on race or gender.
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