Acting New Jersey Governor Sheila Oliver recently signed into law bill A-2903/S-1790, which includes sweeping changes to New Jersey civil and criminal provisions related to the payment of wages, including increased penalties and fines. A summary of the key provisions of this law is below.

First, the law amends the Wage Payment Law, Equal Pay Act, and the N.J. State Wage and Hour Law, such that if an employer owes unpaid wages or wages lost due to retaliation, the employee is allowed to recover not only the wages owed but also liquidated damages equal to 200 percent of the unpaid wages, plus reasonable costs and attorney’s fees. The law provides that an employer may avoid liquidated damages for its first violation if the employer establishes that its action was taken in good faith, with a reasonable basis to believe that its action was not a violation, and the employer admits the violation and pays the amount owed within 30 days.

Second, the law triples the applicable statute of limitations. Specifically, the law extends the limitations period for a wage recovery action from two to six years.Continue Reading New Jersey increases wage protections and penalties for violations