March 2017 Employment Law Update

HR TIP OF THE MONTH

Getting into the Weed(s) with Medical Marijuana in New Jersey

In 2010, New Jersey passed the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (“NJCUMMA”) which protects the users of medical marijuana “from arrest, prosecution, property forfeiture, and criminal and other penalties.” The law specifically provides that employers are not required to “accommodate the medical use of marijuana in . . . [the] workplace,” but is silent about an employer’s duty to accommodate medical marijuana use outside the workplace. While the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination requires an employer make reasonable accommodations to a disabled employee who can perform the essential functions of the job, the law is hazy when it comes to whether those reasonable accommodations include allowing an employee to use medical marijuana outside of the workplace. This dilemma can present some sticky situations for employers. For example, what is required of an employer who maintains a zero tolerance drug policy, but is confronted with an employee who tests positive for marijuana because of their underlying disability? Given this budding area of the law; for now these situations should be addressed on a case by case basis taking into account the employee’s job description, the underlying disability, the circumstances prompting the drug screen, etc.

REGULATORY UPDATE

New York State Direct Deposit and Debit Card Wage Payment Regulations Invalidated and Revoked

On March 7, 2017, New York employers who paid employees via direct deposit or with wagebased debit card were going to be required to comply with strict notice and consent requirements. However, the New York State Industrial Board of Appeals has found that these new regulations exceeded the rulemaking authority of the New York State Department of Labor and instructed that they be revoked. The good news is that for the time being, New York employers are not subject to these new notice and consent restrictions on direct deposits or payroll debit cards for employees.