New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has recently broadened protections for domestic workers by signing the New Jersey Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights (S723/A822) into law. Previously, domestic workers were not covered under the New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law or the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. However, under the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights that was signed into law on January 12 and goes into effect in July 2024, domestic workers will now be covered under these laws and have other significant employment rights.
The Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights broadly defines domestic workers as "hourly and salaried employees, independent contractors, full-time and part-time individuals, and temporary individuals, each one of whom works for one or more employers, and works in residence caring for a child; serving as a companion or caretaker for a sick, convalescing, elderly, or disabled person; housekeeping or house cleaning; cooking; providing food or butler service; parking cars; cleaning laundry; gardening; personal organizing; or for any other domestic service purpose." While "domestic workers" are broadly defined under the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights, it does exclude certain individuals from its protections, including, but not limited to, individuals providing care services for a family member, pet sitting, and operating a business out of a residence.
The Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights provides heightened protections for domestic workers by:
The Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights brings greater protections to domestic workers in New Jersey, and with greater employee protections comes a higher threshold of employer compliance. Notably, employers must provide domestic workers with written agreements that govern the worker's job duties, hourly wage, and other employment matters. Employers of domestic workers are encouraged to consult with counsel to ensure that such agreements and other policies and practices are compliant.
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