2006 was our first year of blogging about employment law issues, with an emphasis on New Jersey law.   Some seven months and 67 posts later, we are on the threshold of 2007, which will be our first full calendar year of blogging.  The approach of the New Year provides us with the traditional  opportunity to look back at some of the items that caught our attention in 2006.

This was a big year for CEPA, NJ's whistleblower law, from new notice and posting requirements to cases that clarify the definition of "employees" who are protected by the law.

The impact of bad language in the workplace on eligibility for unemployment benefits was the subject of another court decision.

The importance of conducting a thorough background check on the licensure of professionals was illustrated by two cases of attorneys who belatedly were discovered not to be licensed to practice law, much to the embarrassment of their employers — a large law firm and the federal government.

 We looked at a new NJ statute — the tongue-twisting Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act.  Which is not nearly as sweeping in scope as its title suggests.

We reviewed a number of stories that dealt with pensions and benefits.

And we had some fun with the creative — and blessedly pragmatic — federal judge who forced some difficult attorneys to settle a discovery dispute by playing a game of "rock, paper, scissors."

We're looking forward to bringing more to you in 2007.  In the meantime, we wish you and your families a very happy, healthy, personally fulfilling and prosperous New Year.