New Jersey Passes Law to Protected Unemployed Job Applicants

The New Jersey Legislature has passed a law prohibiting employers in the state from posting job advertisements, in print or on the internet, that exclude unemployed individuals from applying for a position. The law, which takes effect on June 1, 2011, subjects employers to penalties from $1,000 to $10,000 for violations. The new legislation appears to be in response to an increasing number of complaints of discrimination against the jobless, although it should be noted that the new law excludes any private cause of action by an applicant. Employers in New Jersey should review their hiring practices and procedures as they relate to job advertisements to make sure they are in compliance with this new law.