Summary
Discrimination laws in New Jersey prohibit unequal treatment based on protected characteristics. If a company-wide office attendance policy is not enforced equally, it could be an issue. Protected characteristics in New Jersey include age, race, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, marital status, military service or veteran status, and domestic partnership or civil union status. If you believe you are being treated unfairly due to one of these characteristics, it may be considered discrimination.Full Conversation
No
Based on the information provided:
- Discrimination laws vary by location, please provide yours.
- If your colleagues aren't obliged under their contracts to come in, it might not be discrimination.
- However, if you’re treated less favorably due to protected characteristics, it could be.
NJ
Based on your location in New Jersey:
- New Jersey law prohibits discrimination based on certain protected characteristics.
- If you're being treated differently due to such a characteristic, it could be discrimination.
- If your colleagues aren't contractually required to come in, it might not be discrimination.
What if there is a company wide policy to come to office
If there is a company-wide policy to come to the office, but it is not being enforced equally, it could potentially be an issue. However, this depends on the specifics. Again, discrimination would typically involve protected characteristics.
What are protected characteristics?
Protected characteristics are legally defined aspects of a person's identity that are protected against discrimination. In New Jersey, these include:
- Age
- Race
- National Origin
- Sex
- Disability
- Religion
- Sexual Orientation
- Gender Identity or Expression
- Pregnancy
- Marital Status
- Military Service or Veteran Status
- Domestic Partnership or Civil Union Status.