Discrimination occurs when someone treats similarly situated people differently based on certain characteristics, often referred to as protected classes. The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination protects employees of New Jersey from being discriminated at the workplace.Discrimination in the workplace is illegal under both federal and state laws. First thing you need to do to prove discrimination is to establish a "prima facie" case of discrimination. What is Discrimination? The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination prohibits employees from being harassed or discriminated against because of their national origin. The New Jersey Equal Pay Act prohibits discrimination in the rate or method of payment of wages to any employee because of his or her sex. Harassment is considered a type of discrimination when the harassing conduct is based on a person's membership in a protected class. State and federal law prohibit discrimination in employment, public accommodation, housing, and other areas. The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) is considered one of the most aggressive anti-discrimination statutes in the country.