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recovered for our employment law cases
Under both federal and New Jersey laws, employers must pay employees all earned wages. These laws establish requirements for minimum wage, overtime, and wage payment. However, many New Jersey employees get cheated out of their hard-earned wages and overtime pay every day.
If you are an employee in New Jersey who suspects wage theft, unpaid overtime, improper deductions, or other wage and hour violations, the dedicated New Jersey wage and hour lawyers at Joseph & Norinsberg can help.
With over 20 years of experience and a 90 percent success rate, our employment law firm has helped countless workers recover owed wages and hold employers accountable for violating labor laws. Don’t wait—contact our top-rated wage and hour attorneys today for a free case review. We will listen to your story, examine your pay records, and map out a strategy customized to get you justice.
Table of Contents
- Why Choose Joseph & Norinsberg for Your New Jersey Weight Discrimination Case?
- Our Wage and Hour Case Results
- Understanding New Jersey Wage and Hour Laws
- Rights of New Jersey Employees Regarding Wage and Hour Claims
- Potential Remedies for Wage And Hour Claims in NJ
- Common Wage and Hour Violations in New Jersey
- Steps To Take If You Believe Your Wage and Hour Rights Have Been Violated
- Contact Joseph & Norinsberg For Your Wage And Hour Case
Why Choose Joseph & Norinsberg for Your New Jersey Weight Discrimination Case?
When you choose our firm for your wage and hour case, you’ll get a tenacious team of employment law professionals who will stand up to even the most powerful employers and fight for your rights.
We fiercely protect the fundamental rights of New Jersey workers. These rights include fair pay, equal treatment, and a safe, welcoming work environment free from discrimination. We tirelessly fight for every client, refusing to give up until justice is served. We embrace challenges and tackle the toughest cases that other lawyers avoid.
We have a dedicated staff of experienced attorneys and paralegals ready to support you during your case, inside and outside the courtroom. The Supreme Court of New Jersey has designated senior trial attorney Crystal Dozier as a Certified Trial Attorney.
Our Clients Have Given Us a Five-Star Rating
We are proud of our five-star Google rating, not because of the number but because of the satisfied clients it represents. We treat all our clients like family—they regularly stay in touch with us long after their cases are resolved. We regularly receive unsolicited client testimonials such as the following:
Our Wage and Hour Case Results
We are proud of the settlements and verdicts we have obtained for our clients, including these notable results in wage and hour cases:
- We obtained a $2.7 million settlement in a class action lawsuit for over 3,000 New York office cleaners. Our lead plaintiff asserted claims for unpaid wages for travel time between job sites during workdays. Despite the defendant’s refusal to admit wrongdoing, we persevered and obtained an exceptional outcome for this large group of diligent workers.
- We negotiated a $397,250 settlement for a group of mechanics in a wage and hour dispute. Our clients alleged they had experienced delayed wage payments and unpaid overtime. Our NJ overtime pay lawyers argued that as “manual workers,” they were entitled to weekly pay, which the defendant had failed to provide. Additionally, we asserted that our clients were consistently underpaid by several hours each week. Our dedicated efforts secured a favorable result for all seven clients in this action within just a few months.
- Our firm secured a $320,000 settlement for eight former employees of a New Jersey bakery. We swiftly resolved our clients’ wage and hour claims, finalizing the settlement just four months after initiating the case.
Understanding New Jersey Wage and Hour Laws
New Jersey has robust wage and hour laws designed to protect employees and ensure they receive fair pay for their work. Some key aspects of New Jersey wage and hour law include:
- Minimum Wage: The current minimum wage in New Jersey is $15.13 per hour. Employers must pay tipped employees at least $5.26 per hour.
- Overtime Pay: New Jersey law requires that employers pay non-exempt workers 1.5 times the regular pay rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. The law exempts certain salaried employees in executive, administrative, or professional roles from the overtime requirement.
- Meal and Rest Breaks: For workers under 18, 30-minute meal breaks are required for shifts over five consecutive hours. Additional breaks must be provided as needed for health and safety. For employees over 18, company policies dictate whether lunch breaks are provided.
- Child Labor: The law strictly limits the hours workers under 18 may work. Generally, minors under 16 cannot work more than 40 hours per week and eight hours per day. The law also prohibits minors from working certain dangerous jobs.
- Pay Frequency: Employees generally must be paid at least twice per month. However, certain executive, supervisory, or other special classes of workers may receive monthly payments under a regularly established schedule.
In addition, New Jersey’s recently enacted Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from discriminating against protected class members by paying them less than other employees for substantially similar work. The protected characteristics include race, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and disability.
New Jersey wage and hour laws work concurrently with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, which protects employees nationwide. Where state and federal standards differ, the higher standard applies.
Certain jobs and workers may be exempt from federal overtime wage and hour protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Executive, administrative, professional, computer, and outside sales employees may not qualify for certain wage protections.
Rights of New Jersey Employees Regarding Wage and Hour Claims
Under New Jersey law, employees have important rights regarding fair pay and ethical treatment. Some key employee rights include the following:
- Right to minimum wage and overtime pay when you qualify
- Right to meal and rest breaks as required by law
- Right to receive your full wages in a timely manner
- Right to equal pay without discrimination
- Right to be protected from retaliation for reporting suspected wage violations
Retaliation involves adverse actions employers may take against workers who assert their rights, such as:
- Demotion
- Pay cuts
- Reduced hours
- Harassment or intimidation
- Wrongful termination
- Threats related to immigration status
New Jersey law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who report wage theft or other violations in good faith. Workers who experience retaliation can file complaints with agencies like the New Jersey Division of Wage and Hour Compliance. Our New Jersey unpaid wages lawyers can help you understand your rights and hold employers accountable.
Potential Remedies for Wage And Hour Claims in NJ
When employees experience wage theft or other violations, New Jersey law allows them to recover the compensation they are owed, plus additional remedies in many cases. Potential outcomes of a successful wage claim or lawsuit include:
- Back pay to reimburse unpaid minimum wages or overtime
- Liquidated damages are equal to the back pay amount
- Reinstatement or lost wages if illegally fired
- Attorney’s fees and court costs
- Compensation for emotional distress
- Punitive damages in some cases
- Changes to employer policies and procedures
Common Wage and Hour Violations in New Jersey
Unfortunately, wage theft and other violations remain all too common in workplaces statewide. Some of the most frequent wage and hour problems New Jersey employees encounter include the following:
- Paying less than the legal minimum wage
- Misclassifying employees as exempt from overtime
Failing to pay time-and-a-half for overtime hours worked
Making illegal deductions from paychecks
Manipulating timecards to hide unpaid hours
Requiring “off-the-clock” work before or after shifts
Failing to provide meals and rest breaks when law or company policy requires
Delaying final pay after termination
Paying employees as independent contractors
Threatening retaliation for reporting violations
These types of violations can result in substantial unpaid wages over time. Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate your compensation and hours to build the strongest case.
Steps To Take If You Believe Your Wage and Hour Rights Have Been Violated
Have you experienced any of the violations discussed in this article? Here are some steps to take:
- Track your hours worked and keep records like pay stubs, texts, emails, and other proof.
- Familiarize yourself with New Jersey wage and hour laws to identify violations.
- Raise the issue respectfully with management and give them a chance to remedy it.
- File a minimum wage complaint with the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development to prompt an investigation.
- Consult with experienced New Jersey wage and hour attorneys.
Contact Joseph & Norinsberg For Your Wage And Hour Case
If you face wage theft or other wage and hour violations in your New Jersey workplace, Joseph & Norinsberg can help. We have the experience and skill to provide the relentless representation you need to get you the pay you have earned.
Call our dedicated minimum wage attorneys today at 212-227-5700 for a free consultation, or contact us online to discuss your legal options.
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Increased client’s severance for being discriminated against for their disability.
Defended 12 individuals facing discrimination and retaliation based on race and gender in the workplace.
Race discrimination case against a luxury brand in the fashion industry (confidential).
