Recent additions to the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination has some employers a little confused on what is now considered discrimination. In addition to race, religion, age, etc., your anti-discrimination policy now needs to protect against:
1) discrimination based upon “civil union” and
2) sexual orientation and sexual “expression” discrimination
The smart employer will have counsel review their employee handbook every year. An example of why this is necessary is the new changes (applicable as of this coming Monday) to the scope of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) that you need to reflect in your handbooks.
Also, on a practical note, these changes need to be published on new, anti-discrimination posters (like the ones posted in your “break room”). The smart employer will make the appropriate changes to the employee handbook and will order updated posters as soon as possible.