How can I file a workplace discrimination claim?

You can file a workplace discrimination claim through the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights or with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Our Franklin Lakes employment law attorney will guide you through the process, gather evidence, and hold your employer accountable for unlawful treatment.

Can I take legal action for wrongful termination in Franklin Lakes?

If you were fired for reasons that violate state or federal law, such as retaliation, discrimination, or whistleblowing, you have the right to pursue a legal claim. Our employment lawyer in Franklin Lakes will assess your situation and build a strong case to recover lost wages and achieve justice.

What legal options do I have if I face wage theft?

If your employer has failed to pay overtime, withheld wages, or misclassified your role to avoid paying you fairly, you may have grounds for a wage theft claim. Our Franklin Lakes employment law attorney can file a claim under New Jersey wage and hour laws to pursue the unpaid wages you're owed.

Employment Lawyer in Franklin Lakes, NJ

Standing With Franklin Lakes Employees, Not Their Employers

Franklin Lakes runs on corporate headquarters and senior professionals. With BD on Becton Drive and a workforce built around management, finance, and healthcare, the disputes here are high-stakes: executive severance, non-competes, and discrimination or retaliation claims that put six-figure careers at risk.

Choosing the right employment lawyer in Franklin Lakes means finding one who knows both this market and the law. We represent employees, never management, across Franklin Lakes and nearby Wyckoff, Oakland, and Ramsey, with 35 years of New Jersey and federal experience behind every case.

Why Franklin Lakes Employees Choose Cowen & Jacobs

When a Franklin Lakes worker files an employment claim, it is heard at the Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, minutes from our office at Court Plaza South. It is the same courthouse where we represent employees from Fort Lee and across the county. We know these judges, this opposing counsel, and how these cases move locally.

Our employment practice is led by Sara Jacobs:

She has decided employment disputes, not just argued them. Sara served as an independent arbitrator on employment cases and spent fourteen years as a Bergen County Superior Court arbitrator, so she reads a claim the way a fact-finder will.
Settlement and ADR depth. As former co-chair of the Bergen County ADR Committee, she works the negotiation and mediation terrain where most workplace claims actually resolve.
A women-owned firm with female employment attorneys, which matters to many clients bringing discrimination, harassment, or hostile work environment claims.
Employees only, never employers. We anticipate employer tactics because we work the other side of these disputes every day.
Documented outcomes in wrongful termination, severance, and employment contract matters, with direct attorney attention on every case.

Employment Law Matters We Handle

We represent employees in a range of workplace disputes, from the corporate offices clustered in Englewood Cliffs to small businesses across the county, tailoring strategy to the facts and available remedies under New Jersey and federal law.

Wrongful Termination and Retaliation

Being fired for asserting your rights, reporting misconduct, or refusing to do something unlawful may violate state or federal law. At-will employment is no cover for an illegal reason, and a termination dressed up as a restructuring is worth a closer look.

Workplace Discrimination

We handle claims involving workplace discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics.

Sexual Harassment & Hostile Work Environment

When an employer ignores sexual harassment or lets a hostile environment continue, we pursue the remedies available under state and federal law.

Wage & Hour Violations

Denied overtime, misclassified, or never paid what you earned? These claims are common among retail and service staff along the Paramus shopping corridor, and we evaluate your rights under New Jersey and federal wage law.

Employment Contracts & Severance Agreements

For executives across Franklin Lakes and neighboring Saddle River, non-compete clauses and equity terms carry consequences that outlast the job itself. We review and negotiate restrictive covenants, compensation terms, and severance packages before you sign anything.

Whistleblower Claims

New Jersey's Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) is among the strongest whistleblower protection laws in the country, and we evaluate whether it covers your situation.

Understanding New Jersey Employment Laws

New Jersey is an at-will employment state, but employers still cannot fire, discipline, or pay workers unlawfully. Several state statutes protect you, and they are often broader than their federal counterparts:

New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) – one of the nation’s most protective anti-discrimination laws, with broader coverage and no damages cap.
Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) – New Jersey’s whistleblower statute, and one of the shortest deadlines in employment law.
Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act – bars unequal pay for substantially similar work and allows recovery of back pay.
New Jersey Wage and Hour Law – governs overtime, minimum wage, and employee misclassification.

Federal laws such as Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, and the Fair Labor Standards Act may also apply. Because New Jersey’s statutes often provide broader coverage and stronger remedies, the best strategy frequently begins with your state-law claims. Deadlines vary sharply between them, which is why an early review matters.

How the Process Works

Most people come to us unsure whether what happened to them is illegal or just unfair. Sorting that out is the first thing we do.

We listen, then tell you straight. You walk us through what happened and leave knowing whether you likely have a claim, not with a sales pitch.
We test the claim before your employer does. Sara Jacobs spent fourteen years deciding cases as an arbitrator. If there is a hole in yours, you hear it from us first.
We identify every deadline that applies. CEPA claims can expire in as little as a year, and a missed date ends a case no matter how strong it is.
We choose the venue that fits your goal. For senior professionals who need to protect a reference, a quiet severance negotiation is often worth more than an agency filing or a lawsuit.
We resolve it, or we try it. Most claims settle through mediation, the terrain Sara worked as co-chair of the Bergen County ADR Committee. When that falls short, we litigate in Hackensack.

Before that first conversation, a few simple steps protect your claim:

Preserve emails, messages, and written communications
Keep copies of pay records and performance reviews
Document incidents, dates, and witnesses
Avoid signing any agreement, including a severance offer, before legal review

What Compensation May Be Available

Depending on the facts of your case, potential remedies may include:

Back pay and lost wages
Front pay
Unpaid overtime or earned compensation
Emotional distress damages
Attorneys’ fees and court costs where permitted
Punitive damages in appropriate cases

Results depend on the specific claims and evidence involved.

Fees and Cost Structure

Many cases are handled on a contingency basis, meaning fees are paid from any recovery. Contract reviews or severance negotiations may be billed hourly. The applicable structure is explained during your consultation.

Client Testimonials from Past Clients

Employment Law Questions from Workers in Franklin Lakes and Bergen County

Do I need an employment lawyer based near Franklin Lakes, or can I hire one from anywhere?

You can hire any New Jersey attorney, but local counsel who regularly practices in the Bergen County courts and knows the area’s employers brings a real practical advantage, the same reason workers searching for an employment lawyer in Teaneck or other Bergen towns look close to home.

Can I bring a claim against a large corporate employer headquartered in Franklin Lakes?

Yes. Employee protections apply regardless of a company’s size or resources, and we regularly take on major corporate, healthcare, and financial employers.

How long do I have to file an employment claim in New Jersey?

It depends on the type of claim, and some deadlines are as short as a year, so it is best to have your situation reviewed promptly.

Do I have to quit my job before filing a discrimination or harassment claim?

No. You can pursue a claim while still employed, and it is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for doing so.

Can I collect unemployment if I was wrongfully terminated in New Jersey?

Often yes. Being fired does not automatically disqualify you, and it is worth reviewing your eligibility alongside any wrongful termination claim.

Contact Our Legal Team Today

Call or Fill Out The Form Below to Schedule Your Consultation

Are you ready to get started on your case with a consultation? With over 35 years of experience, our attorneys are ready to fight for you. Reach out to us today to see what Cowen & Jacobs can do for you.

NOTICE: The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.

Other Legal Services We Provide

Representing Employees Throughout Bergen County

In addition to Franklin Lakes, we represent employees throughout Bergen County, including Wyckoff, Ramsey, Mahwah, Oakland, Ridgewood, Paramus, and nearby communities. We handle matters involving both local and regional employers across northern New Jersey.

You Don’t Have to Handle Workplace Mistreatment Alone

Standing up to an employer is daunting, especially when it feels like it’s just you against a company with lawyers of its own. We will tell you honestly where you stand, what your options are, and what we would do next, so your decision is a confident one rather than a rushed one.