On October 5, 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a new update to the NJ Law Against Discrimination prohibiting employers from discriminating against workers who are 70 years old and older. This measure received wide support from the government, passing both houses of the New Jersey State Legislature without receiving any no votes. This update also received support from a number of advocacy groups include AARP and New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well. This new measure went into effect immediately, thus protecting older employees from discrimination.
How Does the Anti-Age Discrimination Update Help Workers?
Formerly, employers could refuse to hire someone who is 70 years old or older. Therefore, if an individual experiences discrimination based on their age they are more likely to be successful with this new prohibition in place. Further, the new update repeals the mandatory retirement age for tenured employees at universities and colleges.
The U.S. Census Bureau found that workers aged 65 and older make up 21 percent of the workforce. This new Anti-Age Discrimination update acknowledges this new reality that employees are working for more years than in the past. Additionally, as New Jersey’s workforce continues to age this new measure protects the workforce from discrimination and forced retirement.
However, the Anti-Age Discrimination update does not change mandatory retirement at age 70 for New Jersey Supreme Court justices and state judges. The law also does not change Police or Firemen retirement requirements.
Get Legal Assistance For Retaliation
If you believe your employer discriminated against you because of your age, we can help. Learn more about age discrimination as well as the process of bringing an age discrimination claim. Please contact our Red Bank, New Jersey, office at (732) 842-6500, or our Marlton, New Jersey, office at (856) 985-9800, or our Newark, New Jersey office at (973) 787-9040.