By Bruce Atkins | Published December 30, 2025 | Posted in Employment Law | Tagged Tags: Complaint, discrimination, employment law | Comments Off on Five Common Mistakes to Avoid in Filing an Employment Complaint
Five Common Mistakes to Avoid in Filing an Employment Complaint
Employees in New Jersey facing discrimination, harassment, wage and hour violations or retaliation can file complaints with state or federal authorities. However, simply filing a complaint is not enough. There are common errors and omissions that can undermine your ability to get the relief you may be entitled to. Knowing how to avoid these mistakes Read More
Read MoreWays to Protect Yourself if You Believe You’re Being Sexually Harassed
New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace. You are protected whether you are a full- or part-time employee, an intern or a volunteer. Yet, workers across the state are still subjected to harassment, whether through direct action or through tolerance of a hostile workplace. If you believe you are a Read More
Read MoreProposed NJ Law Would Ban Employment Discrimination Based on Height and Weight
A New Jersey state senator in June introduced a bill that would make it illegal for employers to discriminate against someone because of their body size or shape. The measure, Senate Bill 2741, would expand the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) to include height and weight as protected characteristics. If the bill becomes law, Read More
Read MoreFiling a Discrimination Claim With the Division on Civil Rights vs. Going Straight to Court
In New Jersey, an employee with a claim of discrimination has two options on how and where to pursue it. They can bring the matter to a state administrative body called the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) or they can go straight to court. Each option has advantages and disadvantages to be considered before proceeding. Read More
Read MoreNew Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act
It is an unfortunate truth that objectionable practices are rampant in the workplace. Many employees, while bothered by it, are afraid to take action because they know it could mean their jobs. Fortunately, the state of New Jersey has taken special steps to protect the brave employees who stand up to unacceptable practices in the Read More
Read MoreNew Jersey Supreme Court Allows LAD Suit with No Victim
The goal of state and federal anti-discrimination and harassment laws has always been to discourage these practices by making harassers and their employers liable to the victims for the harm they cause. A recent N.J. Supreme Court decision, however, has allowed a claim under the state’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD) in which there was no Read More
Read MoreWhy Taking a Salaried Position May Not Be a Step Up
Many people view transfer from an hourly position to a salaried position as a major step forward in their careers, and for many it is. Others, however, are unpleasantly surprised to see their pay dramatically reduced despite the fact they are working the same if not more hours than previously. The answer lies in the Read More
Read MoreWhat Does Employment-at-Will Actually Mean?
Most states follow the common law doctrine of employment-at-will. This rule essentially states that, absent a contract to the contrary, an employee serves at the pleasure of his or her employer and can be terminated for any or no reason. Fortunately, while still in effect in most U.S. states, the doctrine of employment-at-will has been Read More
Read MoreWhat Is the NLRB?
The National Labor Relations Board, or NLRB, is an administrative tribunal formed in 1935 under the National Labor Relations Act. The purpose of the NLRB is to handle charges of unfair labor practices involving the rights of employees to organize and actively try to improve their working conditions. The board has five seats although only Read More
Read MoreWhich Family Members Are Eligible to Take Family Leave?
Securing time off for family leave is an important part of life. Both the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFMLA) and the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provide that covered employers must grant eligible employees time off from work in connection with birth or adoption of a child or the serious illness of Read More
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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…
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 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…
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…
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.…
