Legal protections under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) prohibit employers in Galloway Township, NJ from discriminating against employees or job applicants based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. These protections cover every aspect of employment, including hiring decisions, pay, job assignments, promotions, discipline, and termination.
What the LAD Covers
The LAD makes it unlawful for employers in Galloway Township to take adverse action based on either real or assumed characteristics related to a person’s identity. This includes:
- Sexual orientation – including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality
- Gender identity – a person’s internal understanding of their gender, which may differ from the sex assigned at birth
- Gender expression – how someone outwardly presents their gender through dress, behavior, speech, and other traits
- Transgender status – whether a person identifies with a gender different from their birth-assigned sex
Discrimination does not have to be explicit. Policies, comments, or practices that create a hostile work environment, deny opportunities, or treat employees unequally based on how they identify—or how others perceive them—can all violate the law.
Workers in Galloway Township who face discrimination for these reasons may have a strong claim under New Jersey’s LAD. Legal action can lead to compensation, reinstatement, and other remedies.
Retaliation for reporting or opposing discrimination is a separate and independent violation under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD). Employers in Galloway Township, NJ cannot punish employees for speaking out, filing complaints, or assisting in investigations related to discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Retaliation Is Illegal—Even Without Proven Discrimination
Under the LAD, it is unlawful for employers to retaliate even if the underlying discrimination claim is not ultimately proven—so long as the employee acted in good faith. Prohibited forms of retaliation include:
- Termination or demotion after reporting bias or harassment
- Reducing pay or benefits
- Reassignment to less favorable shifts or roles
- Harassing or isolating the employee after a complaint is made
- Blocking future advancement or training opportunities
Common Violations in Galloway Township Workplaces
Legal claims may arise when employers:
- Refuse to hire someone because of sexual orientation or gender identity
- Terminate or discipline an employee based on actual or perceived LGBTQ+ status
- Allow harassment or slurs to go unchecked in the workplace
- Use different standards to evaluate or punish LGBTQ+ workers
- Rely on stereotypes or assumptions in hiring, promotion, or discipline
Enforcement and Legal Action
Employees in Galloway Township can pursue legal remedies through the New Jersey courts. In many cases, complaints may also be filed with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR), which investigates and enforces LAD violations.
Importantly, New Jersey courts have affirmed that perceived identity—such as an employer wrongly assuming an employee is LGBTQ+—is still protected under the law. Unequal treatment based on perception, even if inaccurate, is still discrimination under the LAD.
Employees in Galloway Township, NJ who are subjected to discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression have two primary legal options under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD):
Legal Remedies for LGBTQ+ Discrimination
- File a complaint with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR)
- Must be filed within 180 days of the last discriminatory act.
- Triggers an administrative investigation and possible enforcement action.
- File a lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court
- Must be filed within 2 years from the date of the violation.
- Allows broader remedies and access to a jury trial if necessary.
Potential Outcomes
Successful claims may result in:
- Reinstatement to your previous role or a promotion that was unfairly denied
- Back pay and recovery of lost wages or benefits
- Compensation for emotional harm
- Legal fees and costs
- Court orders requiring the employer to change discriminatory practices
Speak With a Discrimination Attorney
If your employer in Galloway Township has taken action against you because of your sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, you may have a valid claim under the LAD. The attorneys at NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC represent workers throughout New Jersey in these cases.
They manage the full process—from investigation and evidence gathering to negotiation and litigation. Contact the firm to review your rights and determine the best legal path forward.