Caregivers, cleaners and households can get help understanding pay, written contracts, breaks and complaint procedures under the state’s existing worker-protection law.
MORRISTOWN, NJ – New Jersey domestic workers and the households that employ them can call 1-800-940-3302 for free assistance with workplace rights, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development said in a Nov. 10 announcement.
The hotline is staffed by the department’s Division of Wage and Hour Compliance. Assistance is available in English and Spanish, with other languages available on request. Callers can ask about wages, contracts and protections, and receive help with filing an online complaint.
The service implements part of the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, which took effect July 1, 2024. The department first announced the hotline during an Oct. 29 webinar; this week’s release publicizes the service rather than establishing a new set of workplace rights.
The law can cover nannies, house cleaners, cooks and people who care for older adults or people with disabilities. A worker may be hired directly by a household or through an agency, and payment in cash does not eliminate applicable protections.
The department’s worker guidance says covered domestic workers who work five or more hours a month must have a written contract. Contracts must be provided in English and the worker’s preferred language and include duties, compensation, schedules and other employment terms.
Covered workers are entitled to a paid 10-minute rest break for every four hours worked and a 30-minute meal break after more than five consecutive hours. A meal break may be unpaid only when the worker is relieved of duties and permitted to leave. Special written arrangements govern on-duty breaks when a person receiving care cannot be left alone.
The department’s employer guidance explains that private households may be employers with responsibilities under the law. It also identifies exclusions, including certain casual work, family members, pet-sitting and repair work. Exclusion from this particular law does not necessarily remove protections under other employment laws.
Workers are protected regardless of immigration status. NJDOL says it does not ask about immigration or citizenship status and will not share information with immigration agencies unless required by law or regulation, or when a worker requests it as part of seeking immigration relief.
Employers may not retaliate against workers for exercising protected rights. The department provides model contracts and complaint information for workers and households seeking to understand their obligations.