Employees in Woodbridge Township are entitled to fair compensation under both federal and New Jersey law. When pay disparities arise based on protected characteristics rather than legitimate business factors, employees may have grounds to pursue a legal claim.
Castronovo & McKinney, LLC focuses exclusively on employment law and represents employees throughout Woodbridge Township and across New Jersey in wage and hour disputes. Determining whether a pay gap is unlawful requires careful legal and factual analysis.
New Jersey’s Equal Pay Law
The Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act amended the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) to provide expansive wage equity protections. The statute prohibits employers from paying employees who are members of a protected class less than other employees performing “substantially similar work.”
Protected characteristics include race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, pregnancy, marital status, and other categories recognized under the LAD.
What Is “Substantially Similar Work”?
Courts evaluate the actual job duties performed rather than relying solely on job titles. If two employees perform work requiring comparable skill, effort, and responsibility under similar conditions, they may be considered similarly situated for equal pay purposes.
This analysis often involves reviewing job descriptions, compensation policies, and workplace practices.
Permissible Pay Differences
Employers may justify pay differences based on legitimate factors such as seniority systems, merit-based systems, productivity measures, or other bona fide business reasons unrelated to protected characteristics.
However, these justifications must be consistently applied and supported by evidence.
Protection Against Retaliation
New Jersey law protects employees who discuss wages or raise concerns about pay disparities. Retaliation for questioning compensation practices may give rise to additional claims.
Adverse actions such as demotion, reduced hours, or termination following wage complaints may violate state law.
Available Remedies
Employees who prevail in equal pay claims may recover unpaid wage differences, additional damages permitted by statute, attorneys’ fees, and other relief. In some cases, the statute of limitations allows recovery for extended periods of wage disparity.
Because wage claims involve strict deadlines and detailed financial review, early legal consultation is advisable.
Learn More About Equal Pay in Woodbridge Township
For additional guidance regarding equal pay protections in Woodbridge Township, review this resource: Woodbridge Township Equal Pay Attorneys.
Contact Castronovo & McKinney, LLC
Castronovo & McKinney, LLC
71 Maple Ave
Morristown, NJ 07960
Phone: 973-920-7888
Email: tom@cmlaw.com
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
The firm represents employees and employers throughout Woodbridge Township and across New Jersey, including Bergen County, Essex County, Middlesex County, and Morris County, as well as communities such as Newark, Hackensack, and New Brunswick.
