Louis L. Chodoff

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On February 6, 2023, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law a controversial bill that will provide sweeping new protections and an expansion of rights for temporary workers in New Jersey, dubbed the “Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights” (A1474/S511).  This new law, which represents a significant victory for temporary workers in the Garden State, seeks to increase government oversight of temporary staffing agencies, advance pay equity between temporary workers and regular employees, and preclude retaliatory conduct against temporary workers. … Continue Reading

In a divided decision handed down yesterday, January 17, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit partially affirmed the decision of a federal District Court eliminating, in part, aspects of an employer-friendly 2019 Rule put in place by the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) to “ensure fair and accurate voting, transparency, uniformity, certainty and finality, and efficiency” in the union election process by, in effect, slowing some of the Obama-era NLRB’s “quickie election” procedures.  … Continue Reading

On September 9, 2022, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (Commission) released interim Guidance (Guidance) on the workplace drug testing provisions of the state’s recreational marijuana law, known as the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act (Act).  This is the Commission’s first workplace guidance since the adoption of the Act in February, 2021, and is intended to serve as a placeholder until the Commission formulates and approves standards for Workplace Impairment Recognition Expert (WIRE) certifications. … Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) published a Final Rule on Monday November 22, 2021 raising the minimum wage for federal contractor employees to $15 an hour. The Rule takes effect on January 30, 2022 and will apply to new or updated contracts with the U.S. Government. The higher wage will apply to existing contracts when parties exercise their option to extend contracts, which often occurs annually.… Continue Reading

On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation expanding state law protection against age discrimination for those employees who are 70 years of age or older.  The legislation amends the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“NJLAD”) in a several important ways.  First, the amendments remove language from the NJLAD that previously permitted employers to forego hiring individuals or offering them promotions if they were 70 or older.  … Continue Reading

Last week, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled that an employee whose employment was terminated on the same day she disclosed to her employer that she had tested positive for COVID-19 sufficiently pled a claim of “regarded as” disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (“PHRA”). … Continue Reading

On July 21, 2021, in a 3-1 decision, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) ruled that a union does not violate federal labor law with the display of the infamous “Scabby the Rat,” and other similar inflatable symbols, at workplaces that do not employ those union’s workers.   Former NLRB General Counsel Peter Robb, a Trump appointee, had long attempted to kill off Scabby, arguing that using the balloons at secondary protests was an unlawful attempt to threaten and coerce neutral parties.… Continue Reading

The United States Supreme Court (“Supreme Court”) has dealt a blow to organized labor, striking down as unconstitutional a California law that permitted union organizers access to agricultural company land to speak with workers.

Two California growers, Cedar Point Nursery and Fowler Packing Company, filed suit in federal district court, seeking to enjoin enforcement of a state regulation that required agricultural employers to allow union organizers on to their property for up to three hours per day, 120 days per year. … Continue Reading

On May 17, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advised employers to follow the new CDC mask guidance for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  Although this provides some guidance for employers, it is important that businesses continue to practice workplace safety protocols that reflect the unique characteristics of each workplace, and account for the fact that many workers and others who visit their businesses are not fully vaccinated.… Continue Reading

On May 3, 2021, Governor Murphy announced that New Jersey, along with New York and Connecticut, would lift many COVID-19 pandemic restrictions affecting the region’s businesses, venues, and gatherings over the course of the next several weeks.  Governor Murphy cited the vaccination progress and the decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state as supporting factors for easing the restrictions, underscoring that the partnership with neighboring states and steps taken by New Jersey are the results of data-driven decision-making. … Continue Reading