NJ Bans Employer Access to Facebook Password

** Update – This law was not signed yet by the Governor. The Star-Ledger and NJ.com reported that it had been signed into law in error. We would like to thank Evan Shenkman for bringing this to our attention. It is nice to know that someone is reading our blog! We will let you know as soon as this bill is signed.

New Jersey enacted a law on December 7 that forbids employers from requiring job applicants and current employees to reveal their passwords to social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. The law requires companies who violate the law to pay lost wages and an employee’s attorneys’ fees. New Jersey is the third state, following Maryland and Illinois, to protect employees from this invasion of privacy.

About the Author

Tom McKinney is an experienced NJ Employment Lawyer in all major areas of labor and employment law, including discrimination, harassment, overtime violations, wage and hour claims, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, LAD, FLSA, and all other employment law claims. Tom is admitted to practice in the States of New Jersey and New York, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Southern District of New York, District of New Jersey, and United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Prior to forming the firm, Tom practiced at Gibbons P.C. in Newark, NJ. If you have any questions regarding this article, contact Tom here today.