New Jersey’s controversial legislation aimed at combatting worker misclassification will not be voted on during the current legislative session, ending January 14, 2020. Instead, the bill will be reconsidered during the two-year term. The proposed legislation included stricter definitions of employee and independent contractor and critics of the bill, such as freelancers and independent journalists, were concerned about the impact to their livelihood.
Employers should remain cautious, however, about proper classification of workers. New Jersey’s Wage Theft Act, passed in 2019, implemented stiffer penalties and potential criminal liability for violations of the state’s wage and hour laws, including those related to worker classification.
