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New Jersey Labor Laws

New Jersey has comprehensive labor protections including a $15.13 minimum wage for most employers, earned sick leave for all employees regardless of employer size, tiered minimum wages for small and seasonal employers, and weekly pay requirements for manual workers.

Important: New Jersey's minimum wage varies by employer size - $15.13 for most, $13.73 for small employers (5 or fewer). All employers must provide earned sick leave.

Minimum Wage

New Jersey has a state minimum wage that reached $15 for most employers in 2024.

Key Requirements

  • Most employers: $15.13 per hour (as of January 1, 2024)
  • Small employers (5 or fewer): $13.73 per hour (2024), reaching $15 by 2026
  • Seasonal and agricultural: $13.73 per hour (2024)
  • Tipped employees: $5.26/hour minimum cash wage
  • Adjusted annually based on Consumer Price Index after reaching $15

Additional Resources

Overtime

New Jersey follows federal overtime requirements with some additional state provisions.

Key Requirements

  • Overtime pay: 1.5x regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek
  • No daily overtime requirement (calculated weekly)
  • Standard FLSA exemptions apply (executive, administrative, professional)
  • Applies to all employers
  • State law mirrors federal requirements

Additional Resources

Meal Breaks

New Jersey requires meal breaks for employees working certain shifts.

Key Requirements

  • Meal break: Minors must receive 30-minute break after 5 continuous hours
  • Adult employees: No state-mandated meal break requirement
  • No state law requiring rest breaks
  • If breaks are voluntarily provided, short breaks must be paid
  • Industry-specific regulations may apply (e.g., healthcare)

Additional Resources

Earned Sick Leave

New Jersey requires earned sick leave for all employees.

Key Requirements

  • Accrual: 1 hour for every 30 hours worked
  • Maximum use: 40 hours per year
  • Applies to all employers regardless of size
  • Can be used for employee or family member illness, preventive care
  • Unused leave carries over but employer can cap at 40 hours

Additional Resources

Payment of Wages

New Jersey has specific requirements for wage payment frequency and timing.

Key Requirements

  • Employees must be paid at least semi-monthly (twice per month)
  • Manual workers must be paid weekly
  • Final wages: Must be paid by next regular payday
  • Certain wage deductions require written authorization
  • Direct deposit allowed with employee written authorization

Additional Resources

Child Labor

New Jersey has comprehensive restrictions on youth employment.

Key Requirements

  • Work permits required for minors under 18
  • Ages 14-15: Limited to 3 hours per school day, 18 hours per week during school
  • Ages 14-15: 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week when school not in session
  • Ages 16-17: Limited to 6 days per week, 40 hours per week during school
  • Minors under 18 cannot work before 6am or after midnight on school nights

Additional Resources

Minimum Wage by Employer Type

New Jersey has different minimum wage rates based on employer characteristics:

Most Employers (6+ employees)

$15.13/hour

Annual CPI adjustments

Small Employers (5 or fewer)

$13.73/hour

Reaching $15 by 2026

Seasonal/Agricultural

$13.73/hour

Separate tier for these workers

Tipped Employees

$5.26/hour

Cash wage with tip credit

Earned Sick Leave for All Employers

New Jersey's earned sick leave law applies regardless of employer size:

Key Provisions:

  • Applies to ALL employers (no size threshold)
  • Employees accrue 1 hour per 30 hours worked
  • Up to 40 hours can be used per year
  • Can be used for illness, preventive care, or care for family members

Weekly Pay for Manual Workers

New Jersey has unique pay frequency requirements:

Manual Workers

Must be paid weekly

Other Employees

Must be paid at least semi-monthly (twice per month)

Meal Break for Minors

New Jersey requires meal breaks specifically for minor employees:

Employees under 18 must receive a 30-minute meal break after 5 continuous hours of work. Adult employees have no state-mandated meal break requirement, though industry-specific regulations may apply.

Navigate New Jersey's Labor Requirements

Rightwork automatically applies the correct minimum wage based on employer size, tracks earned sick leave accruals for all employees, manages weekly payroll for manual workers, and enforces minor break requirements.

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