NEW JERSEY CIVIL UNION ACT: Effective February 19, 2007, the law provides for the legal recognition of a civil union established by two eligible individuals of the same sex. Parties to a civil union are entitled to the same benefits and protections, and are subject to the same responsibilities as spouses in a legal marriage.

NEW JERSEY LAW AGAINST DISCRIMINATION (LAD): The LAD prohibits unlawful employment discrimination based on an individual's race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex (including pregnancy), familial status, marital/civil union status, religion, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, liability for military service, and mental or physical disability (including perceived disability, and AIDS and HIV status).

NEW JERSEY CONSCIENTIOUS EMPLOYEE PROTECTION ACT: The CEPA prohibits employers from taking adverse employment actions against employees who disclose, object to, or refuse to participate in certain actions that the employee reasonably believes to be either illegal or in violation of public policy.

NEW JERSEY DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP ACT: This law went into effect on July 10, 2004. It protects same-sex couples who have entered into domestic partnerships and heterosexual couples over the age of 62 under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. It also affords those covered with various tax, health, pension and retirement benefits.

NEW JERSEY EQUAL PAY ACT: The NJEPA prohibits employers from discriminating against employees with respect to the rate or method of pay on the basis of the employees' sex.

NEW JERSEY SMOKING LAW: This law provides that employers may not refuse to hire or otherwise discriminate against employees or job applicants because they do or do not smoke, unless the action is related to the requirements of the job.