PHoto oF tHe weeK

Carol Lomberk of Barnegat noticed some activity in her birdhouse recently. A sparrow was seen giving lunch to his new nestlings. Someone should tell them about the delicacies from all around the Jersey Shore! Want to see your picture in this space? How about winning a prize? Email your pix to photos@ jerseyshoreonline.com and you may get lucky!

Workplace Discrimination

By: Christopher R. Shea, Esq. of R.C. Shea & Associates

Workplace discrimination is a cancer. Like cancer, discrimination is deadly. People’s livelihood and their ability to feed their family depend upon their jobs. Discriminatory firing, being passed over for promotion, unequal pay, and demotions all undermine a person’s ability to take care of their family and get ahead in life. Likewise, harassment in the workplace for no reason other than who employers are, how they worship, or what they look like can have devastating financial and emotional consequences. If you have been the victim of discrimination, the first thing you must do is know your rights.

Both federal and state law prohibit discrimination in employment. However, New Jersey employment law provides far more protection. New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination like federal law, prohibits discrimination in employment because such reasons such as race, religion age or gender. New Jersey goes further, however, prohibiting employees from discrimination based on almost any personal quality which they cannot change, including HIV related illnesses, domestic partnership or civil union status, sexual orientation, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, gender identity and genetic information. Likewise, in New Jersey employers cannot discriminate against employees because of who they love or live with.

Discrimination can take any form including but not limited to fi ring, demotion, failure to hire, failure to promote, reduction in pay, failure to give a raise or bonus, unequal pay, refusal to give training, transfer to less desirable positions or duties, and poor evaluations. Moreover, while dis- crimination can take many forms, generally discriminatory actions in the workplace can be sorted into one of three categories: intentional discrimination, disparate impact discrimination, and harassment.

Intentional Discrimination

Intentional discrimination occurs when an entity or person acted, because of, and not merely, in spite of, the adverse effect, the action action would have on a particular person and/or group.

Disparate Impact

A practice which is neutral on its face is still illegal if it has the effect of having an unjustified and severe negative impact on a particular employee or an employee of a particular group.

Harassment

Many times, discrimination, whether intentional or disparate impact, is inextricably intertwined with harassment. Harassment includes intimidation, bullying, coercion, unwelcome gestures, comments, unwelcome touching, which, when done because of who the employee is, is illegal.

Conclusion

In conclusion, all forms of discrimination are illegal, and no one should have to deal with it at work. Our attorneys at R.C. Shea & Associates are experienced discrimination litigators who fight for the rights of employees who have suffered illegal discrimination. Call us for a free consultation. (732) 505-1212.

2023 Downtown Toms River Event Calendar

TOMS RIVER – The 2023 Event Season is here! They are currently accepting applications for the following: artists, hand crafters, food trucks, local small businesses, commercial vendors, nonprofits. Visit the following link to apply: downtowntomsriver.com/become-a-vendor.

• Farmers Market: every Wednesday through October 25 at Huddy Park

• Downtown Night Out: every Friday and Saturday through October 28 on

Washington Street

• Cruisin’ Downtown: , August 9, September 13 on Washington Street

• Comfort Food Festival: September 16 on Washington Street

• Harvest Arts Festival: October 21 on Washington Street

• Small Business Saturday: November 25, district wide

• Tree Lighting: December 1 on Washington Street

• Winter Wonderland: December 2 and 9.

Check out Micromedia Publications’ website, jerseyshoreonline.com

Toms River Harvest Arts Festival

TOMS RIVER – Join Toms River Fire Dept., Company #1 as they host the Toms River Harvest Arts Festival on October 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Washington Street will be filled with food trucks, merchandise & handcraft vendors, a beer & wine garden and local artists selling and displaying their works as part of a juried art show.

There will be free pumpkin painting for the kids and other kid activities. Live entertainment from local bands throughout the day. Local businesses, restaurants, brewery and distillery will be open on the street as well. Free admission and free parking in downtown during the event. Meet your Toms River Vol. Fire Co. No. 1 firefighters while they are at their BBQ Tent and beverage garden.

Toms River Police Foundation Annual Golf Outing

TOMS RIVER – The Toms River Police Foundation’s annual Golf Outing is almost here and you do not want to miss it!

Enjoy a fun day on the gorgeous Bey Lea Golf Course with friends and family. Win prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive, hole in one, and more!

The Golf Outing will be on June 21 from 1 to 6 p.m. at Bey Lea Golf Course. Dinner to follow at Shogun of Bey Lea. Register your foursome today!

Sponsorships available on the foundation website –for more information visit: tomsriverpolicefoundation.org/golf-outing

TRFOD Night

TOMS RIVER – Toms River Field of Dreams Night at BlueClaws Stadium will be on August 31 at 7:05 p.m.

Cost is $5 a ticket; or $20 for a ticket with t-shirt. Let’s show the rest of the State of New Jersey by wearing your RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams and Ocean Orthopedic Associates Complex gear in order to show full inclusion in effect! Purchase tickets at rwjbhfieldofdreams.com.