New Jersey Wage Payment Law – Chapter 173, Laws of 1965
All employers must pay full wages at least twice monthly. Executive and supervisory staff may be paid monthly. Paydays must be regular and designated in advance. If a payday falls on a non-workday, payment must be made the prior workday (unless covered by a collective agreement). Pay periods must end no more than 10 working days before payday. If paid by check, employees must be able to cash checks easily.
Final Pay & Incentive Wages:
Employees leaving or terminated must be paid by the next regular payday. A 10-day extension is allowed for payroll disputes. Incentive-based employees must receive estimated pay until actual amounts are known. Wages may be paid via mail if requested.
Deductions Allowed Only If:
Required by law
Correcting payroll errors
Authorized in writing or via collective agreements for: insurance, medical, pension, retirement, savings, uniforms, safety equipment, loans, U.S. bonds, union dues, child care, charity, or airport ID fees.
Employer Obligations:
Inform employees of pay rate and schedule upon hire and before changes
Provide wage deduction statements each pay period
Maintain and allow inspection of wage records
Provide form MW-400 upon hire
Enforcement & Penalties:
Violations are disorderly persons offenses. Fines: $100–$1,000 per offense, per day. Administrative penalties: up to $250 (1st offense), $500 (subsequent), plus a 10–25% administrative fee. Licenses may be suspended after due process.
Legal Status Note:
The Division of Wage and Hour Compliance enforces laws regardless of a worker’s immigration status and does not share information with immigration authorities.
Contact:
NJ Department of Labor & Workforce Development
Division of Wage and Hour Compliance
PO Box 389, Trenton, NJ 08625-0389 • (609) 292-2305
Free posters: nj.gov/labor
See attached poster for more details.