Today we have set forth how major federal and state legislation, both long standing and recently enacted, come into play during this pandemic.

On January 3, 2020, the New Jersey Appellate Division issued the first published opinion interpreting the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (the “PWFA”). Effective January 17, 2014, the PWFA amended the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (the “LAD”), prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Earlier this month, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill creating a four-year pilot program to study the effects of a later start time for New Jersey high schools. This bill comes after a 2014 report by the American Academy of Pediatrics that reported sleep deprivation in adolescents with one contributing factor being early school start times.

In February of 2019, Governor Murphy signed a bill that gradually increases the minimum wage, over the span of multiple years, to $15.00 per hour. The minimum wage for most employees is currently $8.85 per hour. However, the minimum wage will increase on July 1, 2019. 

In February of this year, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill that expanded the Family Leave Act. While some of the expansion took effect immediately, other changes are phased in. 

Many employees want to use their paid time off before going on unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), in order to extend their total leave time. Many employers might allow this “piggy-backing” of leave time, but doing so may result in a violation of the FMLA and exposure to potential liability.

Many school district employees want to use their paid time off before going on unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), in order to extend their total leave time. Many school districts might allow this “piggy-backing” of leave time, but doing so may result in a violation of the FMLA and exposure to potential liability.

On March 7, 2019, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) released a proposal to increase the minimum salary threshold for the administrative, executive, and professional overtime exemptions.