Gender Equality in The Payment of Wages in New Jersey

In September of 2012, Governor Christie signed a new law requiring every employer in New Jersey that employs 50 or more employees to post a notice that was prepared by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and that addresses gender equality in the payment of wages and other forms of compensation and benefits. The new law also requires every employer to whom the law applies to give a copy of that same written notice to every employee. The written notice must immediately be distributed to every employee (as the law is newly enacted) and hereafter must be distributed annually to every employee on or before December 31. Every new employee must also be given a copy of the written notice when hired, and when the employee specifically requests a copy of the written notice.

The annual distribution of the written notice can be accomplished by a paycheck insert, by a flyer distributed at an employee meeting, by email delivery, or through an internet or intranet website, if the website is for the exclusive use of the employees, can be accessed by all employees and the employer provides notice to the employees of the posting. It is important to note that the written notice to employees must be acknowledged by the employee; the acknowledgement must indicate that the employee has read the written notice and understands its terms. The employee acknowledgement can be a written document signed by each employee or an electronic acknowledgement returned to the employer within 30 days of each employee’s receipt of the written notice.

For you convenience we have attached the Written Notice that was prepared by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The Written Notice is printed in both English and Spanish. If you employ more than 50 employees, the Written Notice should be posted together with the other postings required by law. If you employ more than 50 employees, the attached Written Notice should also be distributed to all employees as promptly as possible and every year into the future. As an employer subject to this new law, you must post and distribute the Written Notice prepared by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development in both English and Spanish.