Labor & Employment (Labor Standards) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 15, 2026

A 5276: Clarifies overtime compensation requirements for certain public employees engaged in law enforcement and fire protection activities.

This bill clarifies overtime compensation rules for public employees working in law enforcement and fire protection in New Jersey. It achieves this by amending existing state labor laws to update definitions of key terms such as "wages," "regular hourly wage," and "employer." The text specifically expands the definition of an employer to include various government entities and agencies, ensuring these public workers are covered under the updated compensation standards. By refining these legal definitions, the legislation aims to provide clearer guidance on how overtime pay should be calculated for these specific public sector roles.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage Public Employees

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 28, 2026

S 4443: Clarifies overtime compensation requirements for certain public employees engaged in law enforcement and fire protection activities.

This bill clarifies overtime compensation rules for public employees in law enforcement and fire protection roles in New Jersey. It achieves this by amending existing state labor laws to update definitions of key terms such as wages, regular hourly wage, and employer. The text also establishes specific definitions for seasonal employment and small employers to ensure consistent application of these compensation standards.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 14, 2026

A 5052: Allows certain parties to sue construction company for commission of or alleged commission of various actions.

This bill allows construction companies, contractors, and subcontractors in New Jersey to sue one another for specific wrongful acts such as wage theft, employee misclassification, tax or insurance fraud, and bid manipulation. To initiate such a lawsuit, the plaintiff must notify the potential defendant at least 30 days in advance and inform the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. If the plaintiff wins the case, the court is required to award reasonable attorney fees and costs, including expert witness fees. The legislation defines these terms broadly to include various business entities involved in building, renovating, or maintaining structures within the state.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4295: Allows certain parties to sue construction company for commission of or alleged commission of various actions.

This bill allows construction companies, contractors, and subcontractors in New Jersey to sue other firms in the industry for specific wrongful acts such as wage theft, employee misclassification, tax or insurance fraud, and bid manipulation. The law requires the company filing the lawsuit to provide at least 30 days' notice to the accused party and to notify the Department of Labor and Workforce Development before initiating legal action. If a company wins the lawsuit, the court must award them reasonable attorney fees and costs, including expenses for expert witnesses. These provisions aim to create a legal mechanism for private enforcement of construction industry standards while ensuring transparency through mandatory notifications.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4137: Establishes "Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program" and occupational heat stress standard in DOLWD.

This bill directs New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to create a new program and standard aimed at preventing heat-related illnesses and injuries in the workplace. It requires employers to develop and maintain a prevention plan and mandates specific actions when environmental heat levels exceed safe limits for workers. The regulations will apply to all employees, including those in agriculture, construction, and indoor settings without climate control, with rules to be finalized by June 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workforce Development Workplace Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4242: Establishes four-day workweek pilot program for certain State employees.

This bill creates a two-year pilot program allowing certain New Jersey state employees in the executive branch to work a four-day week. The program is voluntary for participating departments, which must use staggered schedules to ensure daily coverage and negotiate terms with unions if applicable. Employees will keep their current pay and benefits, but the state must ensure the program does not increase overall personnel costs or reduce service levels. Throughout the pilot, agencies will track employee satisfaction and operational metrics, with final results reported to the Governor and Legislature.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Public Employees

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4277: Provides tax credits to certain employers of employees less than 18 years old.

This New Jersey bill creates a tax credit program for businesses that hire workers under the age of 18. The measure is designed to help employers offset increased costs associated with recent minimum wage laws by reimbursing them for the difference between current required wages and what was previously paid. Eligible companies can apply for these credits against their state business or income taxes for tax years before January 1, 2032, and 2034. The amount of the credit is calculated based on the specific wage increases mandated by law compared to prior payments for those young employees.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4215: Limits resale of certain real property formerly owned by public body in certain circumstances; bans deed restrictions limiting use of commercial real property in certain circumstances.

This bill requires that private buyers of real property formerly owned by a public body in New Jersey agree to pay prevailing wages for construction and maintenance work for a period of 10 years after purchase. If a buyer fails to include this wage agreement in a formal contract, the property cannot be resold during that decade. Additionally, the legislation declares void any deed restrictions that prevent commercial real estate from being used for the same business purpose as the original owner utilized it. These changes aim to ensure fair labor compensation on public assets and remove barriers to the commercial use of such properties.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 1, 2026

A 5179: Prohibits payment of subminimum wage due to age, disability, injury, or status as apprentice, learner, or student through special license issued by DOLWD.

This bill prohibits employers in New Jersey from paying subminimum wages to workers based on age, disability, injury, or status as an apprentice, learner, or student. It directly affects individuals who previously could be hired under special licenses issued by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to work for less than the state minimum wage. The key mechanism is the removal of the legal authority for the Wage and Hour Division to issue these special permits, ensuring all covered workers receive at least the standard minimum wage. Additionally, the bill amends existing tax credit provisions related to sheltered workshops by removing references to special licenses that authorize below-minimum pay.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage Tags People with Disabilities

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 4876: Increases certain compensation for poll workers; provides for overtime pay when polls stay open late.

This bill increases the base pay for election officials in New Jersey from $300 to $300 per election, while also raising specific task-based fees for handling signature registers from a maximum of $25 to $50 per person. It mandates that poll workers receive hourly pay equal to the state minimum wage if they must stay late to accommodate voters still in line when polls are scheduled to close. Additionally, the legislation allows counties to offer optional extra compensation to their election boards and requires the state to reimburse counties for these new costs. These changes directly affect district board members and other poll workers across the state who serve during primary, general, and special elections.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

All labor & employment bills