Many employees are asked by their employer, either at the time of their hire or sometime during their employment, to sign an arbitration agreement. This can be a stand-alone agreement or a clause in an employment contract or handbook. Such an agreement asks the employee to agree that if they have a grievance with their employer, they will settle the dispute using binding arbitration rather than litigation. On one hand, arbitration is typically cheaper and resolves disputes more quickly than going to court, which can be very expensive and take months or even years to conclude. On the other hand, an employee who agrees to resolve any disputes using binding arbitration often gives up their rights to what may be more lucrative, more equitable, or more just compensation through the legal system. 

Whether you’re shopping for holiday gifts, struggling through end-of-year doctor’s appointments, or picking up dinner, you will likely find yourself slogging across a wintery parking lot in the next few months. Since many parking lots are commercial property (such as those for shopping malls, offices, and other retail establishments), you may be able to receive compensation if you slip, fall, and suffer injuries.

Formerly limited to high-level corporate employees, non-compete agreements are becoming a standard part of the pre-employment or onboarding packet for an increasing number of workers. In some situations, these contracts—also called “restrictive covenants”—can provide benefits for both an individual and their employer. However, companies often issue these restrictive covenants without negotiation to lower-wage and lower-level employees, for whom they provide little benefit and a potentially significant burden. How can you tell whether a non-competition agreement will be valuable or detrimental to your situation?

There’s a chill in the air, the faint strains of too-early holiday music, and store windows festooned with wintry scenes: winter is here, and snowy conditions are just around the corner. As commuters and shoppers struggle through parking lots and sidewalks piled with snow and ice, some accidents are bound to happen. If you are injured in a slip-and-fall occurrence, do you know where to turn for compensation? 

One of a new employee’s typical first tasks is to read through and complete a stack of paperwork: tax forms, employee handbooks, and other documents. More and more frequently, one of these forms is a non-compete agreement. You may wonder what this document means, how it alters your legal rights and career opportunities, and if your employer can require that you sign it. 

If your child has been injured by an animal, you must take action quickly—both to protect your child’s health and to protect your legal rights. Many animal bites or scratches—even small ones—can result in health risks, including severe impairments, illness, and even death. Knowing what to do in such a situation can help you respond calmly and effectively. 

Do you know what you are entitled to under the New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act (PWA)? If you work in construction, maintenance, and other services on New Jersey public works projects, this law may apply to you. If your employer isn’t complying with its wage requirements, you may be entitled to compensation.

It’s illegal for an employer to discriminate against any current or potential employee because of a disability. This means that an employer can’t choose not to hire, to fire, or take other adverse employment action against a person because of their disability if they are otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job “with or without accommodation.” But what does “accommodation” mean? What does an employer have to do for a current or potential employee with a disability?

Although animal attacks occur frequently, many dog bites happen accidentally or unintentionally. Sometimes, an otherwise friendly dog can get overenthusiastic and bite a human playmate, or a puppy that isn’t yet fully trained can nip at a petting hand. Unfortunately, even unintentional bites can result in disability, impairment, or other medical issues. You may be hesitant to report a dog bite because you fear serious consequences for the dog; maybe you’ve heard that dogs that bite will be put down or taken away from their owner. In New Jersey, this is not necessarily the case. Knowing the law can help you protect your rights and recover what you deserve if you are injured by a dog.

Non-compete agreements are becoming more and more common. Once limited to high-level employees in whom companies invested a great deal of time and trust, these restrictions are now frequently imposed without negotiation on lower-wage and lower-level employees. The laws regarding which non-compete agreements are enforceable vary from state to state, and pending legislation may soon dramatically alter how New Jersey determines which non-compete agreements are enforceable against its workers.