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New Jersey establishes landmark protections to ensure service employees maintain their jobs during ownership transitions.
7-25-2023 12:34pm
New Jersey Enacts Historic Legislation Safeguarding Employment Rights of Service Workers
NEW JERSEY STATE – In an unprecedented move to secure the rights of service workers across New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy yesterday enacted legislation ensuring their job stability during shifts in ownership at their workplaces.
The law presents a significant advancement for employment security, promising service workers the continuity they deserve during periods of transition.
The newly signed legislation (A-4682/S-2389) protects non-managerial and professional service employees who have been employed at qualifying sites for at least 60 days and working a minimum of 16 hours weekly.
The protections extend to those engaged in building or property care and maintenance, airport services, and food preparation services in educational institutions.
Under the law, employers must inform employees and their bargaining representatives about impending changes in property ownership at least 15 days in advance. This notification should include details about the new employer and the impacted workers.
The new law stipulates that, after assuming ownership, the new employer must retain existing service workers for a minimum of 60 days or until the employees' contracts expire, ensuring job stability during transitional periods.
"Service employees should not have the rug pulled out from under them for circumstances outside their control that have nothing to do with their job performance,” said Governor Murphy. “These protections will offer many hardworking employees the professional courtesy and stability they deserve during transitional periods."
The newly signed law extends to a diverse array of locations, including multi-family residential buildings, large commercial and office buildings, schools, cultural centers, industrial sites, pharmaceutical labs, transportation hubs, state courts, warehouses, and certain healthcare facilities.
“Service workers should not be immediately out of a job, at no fault of their own and without warning, when a work site changes hands,” said Robert Asaro-Angelo, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The historic legislation, sponsored by Senator Troy Singleton and Assembly Members Gary Schaer, Andrew Zwicker, Britnee N. Timberlake, and Joe Danielsen, is poised to create a more equitable work environment for service workers across the state.
“With the signing of this bill, we are protecting the rights and job security of workers in our state. Nobody should have to worry about losing their job without due notice,” said Assemblyman Danielsen.
The law is the second of its kind in the United States and stands as a substantial victory for workers' rights.
32BJ SEIU Executive Vice President and NJ State Director Kevin Brown commended Governor Murphy and the state legislature, "Now, our state’s janitors, security officers, airport workers, concierges, and other service workers will be protected from unfairly losing their jobs. This is a massive victory for workers’ rights.”
