Expecting a child can be both exciting and challenging, particularly in the workplace where pregnancy discrimination remains a concern despite legal protections. Discrimination can include biased hiring practices, denial of reasonable accommodations, and unfair treatment. Key laws like the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, ADA, FMLA, and state-specific regulations safeguard employees’ rights, ensuring accommodations and leave are provided. Understanding these laws, documenting incidents, and seeking legal advice can help address unfair treatment. Employers are encouraged to create supportive environments, promoting equity and respect for expecting employees.
New Jersey's employment discrimination laws, particularly the NJLAD, protect workers from discrimination based on characteristics like race, gender identity, and disability. These laws cover hiring, harassment, equal pay, retaliation, and accommodations for disabilities and pregnancy. Additional protections include the New Jersey Family Leave Act and Equal Pay Act. Workers can take legal steps if they experience discrimination, including filing complaints and lawsuits.
Severance pay in New Jersey is often provided for layoffs or restructuring but is generally not mandatory unless required by a contract or the NJ WARN Act. This law mandates severance for mass layoffs at large companies, calculated as one week’s pay per year of service. Severance is taxable and may include negotiated benefits like health coverage.
Learning to recognize retaliation, understanding your rights, and knowing how to respond are vital steps to protect yourself after reporting harassment or discrimination. Take action to ensure a fair and respectful workplace.
Anti-Asian discrimination in U.S. workplaces has risen sharply since the onset of COVID-19, with AAPI employees facing verbal harassment, stereotyping, exclusion from opportunities, and retaliation for reporting bias. Legal protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and state-specific laws empower employees to address these challenges through documentation, internal reporting, and formal complaints to agencies like the EEOC. Combating this issue requires collective action—employees advocating for their rights and employers fostering respect, accountability, and inclusivity to create equitable workplaces for all.
