the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a small business association with thousands of members in the state, and the New Jersey Civil Justice Institute filed an amici curiae brief in a case with major implications for well-intended business owners who may face punishment for relying on guidance from government agents in wage and hour disputes. The state Supreme Court is considering whether Cream-O-Land Dairy can assert a “good faith” defense against penalties for allegedly violating New Jersey employment regulations where the company acted in conformance with judgments from state officials who previously concluded—on at least three separate occasions—that the company was in full compliance. The State argues that this good faith defense only applies if the Commissioner of the Department of Labor or the Director of the Wage and Hour Bureau are personally involved; regardless of what their authorized agents may conclude or represent, the Department of Labor says that small business owners may still be liable.
Continue reading Anti Business New Jersey Booby Traps Small Businesses with NJ Wage Law