New Jersey domestic workers gain added protections

On January 12, 2024, Governor Phil Murphy signed the New Jersey Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act (S-723/A-822), establishing a broad range of rights and employment protections for domestic workers. Domestic workers were previously excluded from the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) and the New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law, leaving them without employee rights such as protections against harassment and discrimination and rest and meal breaks. The new law follows the precedent set by other states, including California, Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. Similar bills are pending in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The law will take effect in July 2024.

Who is covered under the new law?

Domestic workers under the law include caretakers, housekeepers, organizers, gardeners, drivers, and other domestic service workers and can include full-time and part-time employees, independent contractors, and temporary workers.

The law excludes dog walkers; house sitters; people whose primary work is house maintenance, such as roofers or plumbers; and home healthcare aides paid through public funds.

What is covered by the new law?

The new law covers a wide range of rights and protections domestic workers are now entitled to that are aimed at addressing long-standing issues, including: