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New Jersey Passes Significant Minimum Wage Increase

Recent protests by fast-food workers throughout the nation have led to a renewed discussion of the minimum wage and what constitutes an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. While the federal minimum wage remains $7.25 per hour, individual states are free to impose higher minimum wage requirements. New Jersey is among the states ready to make such a move.

Some states have higher minimum wages than those set by federal law, while others have the same rate, a lower rate or none at all.

On Nov. 5, New Jersey voters approved a constitutional amendment raising the minimum wage to $8.25 an hour from $7.25. The amendment also provide for annual automatic cost of living increases. Accomplishing the change by way of a constitutional amendment rather than by statute offers several advantages:

  • It avoids a gubernatorial veto of the measure.
  • It insulates the measure from most legal challenges.
  • It makes the measure more difficult to change or repeal.

Despite the success of the measure, wage and hour attorneys in New Jersey must stand ready to help workers whose employers flout the law.

Neil  H.  Deutsch Attorney Photo
Neil H. Deutsch
Retired

Neil H. Deutsch has been practicing law for over 35 years and is known as a skilled negotiator in employment and discrimination law. He believes in a bottom-line approach of risk analysis and cost effectiveness for his clients. "Case evaluation is something we take seriously," says Mr. Deutsch who seeks top net dollar for his…

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Bruce L. Atkins
Senior Partner

Bruce L. Atkins is the Senior Managing Partner at Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt P.C., a prominent plaintiff employment law firm in the tri-state area. Mr. Atkins believes employees’ rights should be aggressively pursued when they’ve been wrongfully dealt with by their employers. He brings this philosophy to his practice when considering each case and its…

Adam  J.  Kleinfeldt Attorney Photo
Adam J. Kleinfeldt
Partner

Adam J. Kleinfeldt joined Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. in March of 2015.  He primarily represents individuals in employment litigation such as discrimination, retaliation and whistle blowing matters. He has extensive experience in all phases of the litigation process. Adam has obtained significant results for his clients, including a $525,000 jury verdict in a sexual…

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Debra M. McGarvey
Partner

Debra M. McGarvey joined Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. in December 2019. She has extensive experience defending employees and employers in state and federal court in employment litigation matters. She has represented clients on various issues arising out of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), the…

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Carly Skarbnik Meredith
Partner

Carly Skarbnik Meredith, Esq. is a Partner at the firm. Carly has focused her career exclusively in the field of employment law. She has a plethora of experience representing both employees and employers with their employment issues, needs, and concerns. She believes representing both employees and employers has made her an extremely well-rounded client advocate.…

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