Monday, June 19, 2023

Guest Column

Do You Use Temporary Workers???

by Susan S. Hodges, Esq.

Shareholder & Chair, Labor and Employment, Parker McCay

Earlier this year, Governor Murphy signed a temporary workers’ bill of rights into law. This law is intended to help stop the abuse of labor rights for temporary workers. As it stands now, the protections are limited to temporary workers in specific classifications. But if you work for a staffing agency or use a staffing agency to employ temporary workers, I would recommend that you check with your counsel to see if the workers that you use are covered by this law.

One of the most significant requirements in the new law is that covered temporary workers must be paid, at least, the average rate of pay and average cost of benefits (or the cash equivalent thereof) as employees of the actual client/employer that are “performing the same or substantially similar work on jobs the performance of which requires equal skills, effort, and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working conditions[.]” There are monetary penalties for failing to comply with this requirement.

The law also includes notice and recordkeeping requirements, limitations on transportation requirements and fees, the client’s right to offer and laborers’ right to accept permanent positions, certification requirements, surety bond requirements, as well as anti-retaliation requirements. It is a drastic change in how temporary workers have been treated in New Jersey. In light of these changes, both agencies and their clients should review their employment policies and practices, and their mutual contracts, in order to ensure compliance with the law to avoid costly penalties.



Legislative Update

CCSNJ Primary Election Day Recap

On June 6, New Jersey held primary elections for several state, county, and local races. 

Click here to read more: CCSNJ Primary Election Day Recap (constantcontact.com)

Please reach out to Hilary Chebra, Manager, Government Affairs at hchebra@chambersnj.com if you have any questions

CCSNJ Testifies on Internet Gaming Extension

On Thursday June 8, Hilary Chebra, Manager of Government Affairs testified in the Assembly State and Local Government Committee on A-2190 (Caputo/Chaparro/ Greenwald), which would extend the authorization for internet gaming in New Jersey through 2033.

Click here to read more: CCSNJ Testifies on Internet Gaming Extension; Gov's Advisors Make News at CCSNJ Event (constantcontact.com)

Resource Center

PSEG 2023 Neighborhood Partners Program Open for Applications

The Neighborhood Partners Program provides support to grassroots, community based organizations in areas focused on addressing the inequities and inequalities in under-recognized communities throughout PSEG’s service and operating territory. The PSEG Foundation seeks to assist our communities through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion, and factors affecting the under-recognized to reduce inequalities and inequities

Awardees will be selected based on demonstrated program effectiveness, depth, breadth, and overall alignment with the PSEG Foundation strategic pillars. Grants ranging from $500 to $15,000 will be awarded. All applicants will receive a notification of approval or declination in mid-September 2023.

Click here to learn more: PSEG Foundation's Neighborhood Partners Program Now Accepting Applications (constantcontact.com)

I-95 Traffic Resources

On June 11, a vehicle fire in Philadelphia caused a portion of I-95 to collapse. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro declared a state of emergency to secure federal funding to rebuild the bridge, which is estimated to take several months to rebuild.

Click here to learn more: I-95 Traffic Resources (constantcontact.com)