New Jersey's S 1852 provides tax credits to small businesses (fewer than 25 employees and under $1 million annual revenue) and farm employers to offset increased labor costs from the state's minimum wage hike enacted in 2019. The bill allows a credit equal to the difference between the new minimum wage and the previous rate, multiplied by hours worked, for both corporate business tax and gross income tax. Credits are capped at $12,500 per employee and can be carried forward for up to 10 years. This directly affects small business owners and farm employers paying hourly wages who face higher payroll expenses due to the 2019 minimum wage increase.
This bill creates a regulatory framework for "earned wage access services," which allow workers to access money they've already earned but haven't been paid for (like wages from the current pay period) before their regular payday. It requires providers of these services to obtain a license from the New Jersey Banking and Insurance Commissioner, including background checks for owners with controlling interests. The law defines key terms like "earned but unpaid income" and excludes employers offering early pay directly or payroll service providers from regulation. It applies directly to workers seeking early access to their earned wages and the companies providing those services.
This bill amends New Jersey's unemployment insurance law (R.S.43:21-19) by revising definitions related to benefit calculations, not employment classification. It updates how "base years" are determined for unemployment claims, including rules for alternative base years when standard criteria aren't met (e.g., due to disability or military service), and clarifies payroll calculations for determining benefit eligibility. The changes directly affect individuals filing for unemployment benefits and the Division of Unemployment and Temporary Disability Insurance in processing claims. The bill focuses on procedural adjustments to benefit eligibility rules, not worker classification as suggested by its title.
This bill regulates "earned income access services," which allow workers in New Jersey to access wages earned but not yet paid by their employer before the regular payday. It directly affects workers seeking early access to their wages, employers (as "obligors"), and companies providing these services (referred to as "providers"). Key provisions require providers to verify income, deliver funds before the scheduled payday (with the amount deducted from the next paycheck), prohibit interest charges (though fees are allowed), and mandate licensing through the Department of Banking and Insurance. The bill explicitly states these services are not loans, avoiding usury laws, and imposes penalties for non-compliance.
This bill requires construction industry employers in New Jersey to visibly post and provide written notices to all employees about key workplace rights, including unemployment benefits, minimum wage, overtime, and protections against retaliation. The notices must cover rights under the existing Construction Industry Independent Contractor Act (P.L.2007, c.114) and include contact information for filing complaints with the Labor Department. Employers must provide the notices in English, Spanish, and other languages determined by the commissioner based on workforce demographics. Failure to comply results in civil penalties of up to $1,500 for first violations and $5,000 for repeat violations within five years.
This bill (S 1160) requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to allow unemployment claimants to schedule appointments at One Stop Career Centers by phone or internet, not just online. It directly affects individuals applying for or receiving unemployment benefits who need to meet with career center staff. The key provision expands current scheduling options - currently only internet appointments are permitted - to include telephone scheduling, defined as meetings related to unemployment benefits. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and is procedural in nature, focusing on improving access to appointment systems.
