New Jersey
Overview
Please review the information below as well as the information on the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity page and then return to the workplace harassment prevention course tab.
Harassment and discrimination based on a protected characteristic are prohibited under both federal and state law. The federal government and most state governments have agencies that help employers and employees understand these legal requirements and ensure compliance with the laws.
Protected Characteristics
Harassment or discrimination based on any characteristic set forth below is prohibited under state law in New Jersey.
New Jersey
race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles)
color
nationality or national origin
ancestry
sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related conditions)
gender identity or expression
sexual or affectional orientation
age (18+)
creed
disability or handicap
genetic information
marital, civil union, or domestic partnership status
- atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait
service in the US Armed Forces
Applicable Laws
New Jersey
The primary state law prohibiting employment discrimination, including harassment, is the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
Filing a Claim in New Jersey
An employment discrimination or harassment claim may be filed with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, and/or the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, depending on the employer’s size and the protected characteristic on which the claim is based. More information on federal law prohibiting employment discrimination and harassment is available on the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity page.
Retaliation Prohibited
Employer retaliation against an employee who files a discrimination or harassment complaint or is involved in the complaint process is unlawful.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only.
It does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.