New Jersey’s
Employment Lawyers

All employees have a right to a work environment free from sexual harassment, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. While the #MeToo movement has shone a spotlight on sexual harassment of women, workplace harassment can impact anyone: men, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Whether you have been subjected to sexual advances by a supervisor (“quid pro quo” harassment) or unwanted conduct and comments from coworkers (“hostile work environment”), trust Castronovo & McKinney to fight for your rights.

There are numerous state regulations requiring employers to provide a minimum wage, pay overtime, earned sick leave, and commissions, properly classify employees and contractors, implement time-keeping systems, and keep records of pay/gratuities.

Employers that fail to pay the minimum wage, miscalculate rates of pay, misclassify employees or take illegal deductions can be held liable for wage theft. Our firm has a track record of helping employees achieve positive outcomes in wage and hour claims.

At Castronovo & McKinney, we regularly advise employees about severance agreements, separation agreements, and releases. If you have been presented with a severance agreement by your employer, it is wise to consult with our attorneys. We can help to review the agreement, negotiate severance pay with your employer, and make sure your rights are protected.

No one plans on being fired after being a faithful, conscientious employee, but your employer can fire you at any time, for any reason or no reason at all. This is time to have the informed representation we provide.

Employers in New Jersey are prohibited from discriminating against employees and job applicants based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other characteristics. This means that employment decisions (e.g. hiring, firing, promoting) cannot be based on a protected characteristic. For example, it is unlawful for an employer to fire an African American worker because of his or her race or natural hairstyle.

While this sounds straightforward, proving employment discrimination is a challenge because employers often attempt to conceal their discriminatory motives. Our legal team is committed to identifying and eradicating employment discrimination in all its forms. We have the skills and experience to hold employers accountable and help our clients obtain just compensation.

New Jersey is an “at-will” state for purposes of employment, meaning that an employer or employee may terminate the relationship at any time, without a reason, without cause. However, it is unlawful for an employer to fire an employee for an illegal or discriminatory reason. Also, employers are barred from retaliating against employees who complain about discrimination, harassment, or labor law violations by taking an adverse employment action (e.g. firing, demoting, harassing). It takes a skilled employment lawyer to pursue a wrongful termination claim.

Employees have a right to complain and report potential illegal and unethical conduct by their employers (e.g. environmental and safety violations, unfair and deceptive practices, fraud). An employer that takes adverse action against an employee for exercising a legal right can be held liable through a whistleblower retaliation claim. Our firm works to protect the rights of workers who blow the whistle and also defends employers against unwarranted whistleblower claims.