New Jersey passed a law in 2012 requiring employers with 50 or more employees, regardless of whether one or all employees are located in New Jersey, to post and distribute a notice regarding gender inequity and bias in pay, compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. Compliance with this law has been on hold awaiting issuance of the notice by the New Jersey Department of Labor (“NJDOL”). The NJDOL has finally created the notice and employers must now comply with both posting and distribution requirements.
Regarding posting, covered employers must post the notice in a conspicuous place beginning January 6, 2014. Where an employer has an internet site or intranet site exclusively for its employees to which all employees have access, posting the notice on this site will satisfy the requirement. Also, the notice must be in English and Spanish and any language spoken by 10% or more of the employees if it is available from the NJDOL. Right now, only the English poster is available. A copy of this poster is available here.
Regarding distribution, covered employers must provide the notice along with a written acknowledgement of receipt by February 5, 2014, to current employees who were hired on or before January 6, 2014. For employees hired after January 6, 2014, the notice must be provided at the time of hire. The notice and acknowledgment must also be provided to employees each year (by December 31) and upon request. The employer must receive the executed acknowledgment within 30 days of delivery. Distribution of the notice may be done by hardcopy, email, or again through an internet or intranet website if the site is exclusively for use by all employees, can be accessed by all employees, and if the employer provides notice to employees of its posting.
Brody and Associates regularly advises management on complying with state and federal employment laws including wage and hour laws. If we can be of assistance in this area, please contact us at info@brodyandassociates.com or 203.965.0560.
