Living in New Jersey means you’ve got strong legal protection against unfair treatment. Let me explain how the state protects your civil rights, particularly through the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, or NJLAD for short.
Whereas it is now established and declared that discrimination against any New Jersey resident or visitor thereof is contrary to the principles of fairness and equality, the following provisions shall apply:
You’re protected from discrimination based on who you are – your race, where your family’s from, your age, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, if you’re married or in a civil union if you’re pregnant, any disabilities you might have, whether you’ve served in the military, and even where your rent or mortgage money comes from. This protection applies pretty much everywhere that matters: at work, when you’re looking for a place to live, going to school, or just trying to grab dinner at a restaurant.
Section 1. Employment Provisions
Your boss (or potential boss) can’t treat you differently when it comes to:
- Getting hired
- Moving up in the company
- What you get paid
- Your day-to-day work conditions
Section 2. Housing and Public Access
Nobody can stop you from:
- Renting or buying a home
- Getting a mortgage
- Entering public spaces like theaters or hotels
- Receiving an education at any school or college
Important note: If someone harasses you or tries to get back at you for reporting discrimination, that’s illegal too. The law’s got your back there.
For persons with disabilities: Reasonable accommodations must be provided in workplaces, housing, and public spaces. The determination of “reasonable” shall be made on a case-by-case basis.
Legal Recourse and Enforcement:
If you think someone’s violated your rights, you’ve got options. The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights handles these cases, but remember – you’ve got to file within 180 days of when it happened. They can make the other party:
- Pay you damages
- Give you your job back
- Change their policies
- Get proper training
New Jersey’s civil rights laws go further than federal ones in many ways – for example, we’re pretty serious about protecting gender identity and expression.
Need help? The Division on Civil Rights can help, or you might want to talk to a lawyer who knows this stuff inside and out.
Remember: The aforementioned provisions shall be construed liberally to accomplish their remedial purposes.
