Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) — Wage and Overtime Rights for PA and NJ Employees The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the primary federal statute governing minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards. It applies to most employees in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and provides powerful remedies for workers who have been underpaid — including liquidated damages […]

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) — Employee Rights The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects employees and job applicants who are 40 years of age or older from discrimination based on age. It applies to employers with 20 or more employees, including state and local governments. If your employer in Pennsylvania or New Jersey made employment decisions based […]

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — Workplace Rights for Pennsylvania and New Jersey Employees The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. It requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations and prohibits adverse employment actions based on disability. If your employer denied an accommodation, fired you because of a medical […]

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act — Employment Discrimination Protections Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the foundational federal statute prohibiting employment discrimination. It applies to employers with 15 or more employees and covers discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Following the Supreme Court’s 2020 Bostock decision, Title VII’s prohibition on […]

Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) — What Employees Need to Know The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) is the state anti-discrimination statute that protects Pennsylvania employees from workplace discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The PHRA covers smaller employers than federal law, provides uncapped compensatory damages, and allows direct filing in state court — making it a critical legal tool for employees […]

New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) — What Employees Need to Know The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) is one of the most protective anti-discrimination statutes in the United States. It covers more protected categories than federal law, applies to all employers regardless of size, and provides for uncapped damages including emotional distress and punitive damages. If you work […]

How to Report Workplace Safety Violations to OSHA If your workplace in Pennsylvania or New Jersey has unsafe conditions that your employer refuses to fix, you can file a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). More importantly, if your employer fires you, demotes you, or takes other adverse action because you reported safety concerns, you are protected […]

How to Get Your Personnel File in Pennsylvania Your personnel file contains performance reviews, disciplinary records, hiring documents, and other employment records that may be critical to an employment claim. If you are considering a discrimination, wrongful termination, or retaliation claim, obtaining your personnel file is one of the first evidence-gathering steps your employment lawyer will recommend. Pennsylvania Law on […]

How to File a Discrimination Complaint With the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) enforces the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) — one of the strongest anti-discrimination statutes in the country. If you experienced workplace discrimination in New Jersey, filing with the DCR is one path to relief. This guide covers […]

How to Respond to a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) A performance improvement plan is often the first step in a termination process — not a genuine effort to help you improve. If you have been placed on a PIP, especially after engaging in protected activity like reporting harassment, requesting FMLA leave, or filing a discrimination complaint, you need to understand […]