Employment Law Institute Breakfast Briefing

A River Runs Through It: PA, NJ and DE Employment Laws & Issues

Only the Delaware River separates NJ,PA and DE geographically, but they are worlds apart in their laws regulating the workplace. NJ places greater burdens and restrictions on employers, while providing employees with many additional remedies and causes of action. PA provides employees with fewer causes of action, but does present greater risks and liabilities as to some areas of employment law -- such as wage payment and collection. And it's a "small wonder" that DE, just down the river, has its own set of rules, too. The cross-river contrasts have become greater in the past year, as NJ has enacted a raft of new laws regulating employers, and courts have expanded the application of existing laws.

Further muddying the waters are the procedural and administrative differences in initiating employment discrimination claims in each jurisdiction. Plaintiffs can go straight to state court in NJ, or choose to start with the Division on Civil Rights. For most federal claims, the EEOC is a mandatory stop. And in PA and DE, state agencies require intermediate administrative filings before going to court.

This lively seminar will identify key areas of concern and help counsel to companies with operations in all three states navigate the variations in state law. Attendees will be provided with:

* Charts comparing various PA, NJ & DE laws

* Comparisons of the procedural and administrative requirements in each state, and under federal law

* Checklists identifying the essential elements of unique state statutes

* Guidance to ensure HR professionals and managers are sensitive to differences in each state's laws

* Sample policies and language to accommodate variations in state laws