The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) recently implemented new requirements pertaining to how businesses report employee separations. Effective December 8, 2025, the rules impose new compliance obligations on employers of all sizes, intended to assist the state in processing unemployment claims.
New Jersey employers must now report all employee separations through the Employer Access portal, available at business.nj.gov. Using the portal, employers must report any form of job separation, to include terminations, resignations, layoffs, and retirements. This reporting requirement applies to any employer subject to New Jersey’s unemployment insurance laws, which generally includes businesses with one or more covered employees.
Previously, businesses were only required to report a separation after a former employee filed a claim for unemployment benefits. Now, employers must report a separation directly to NJDOL through the portal regardless of whether the employee applies for unemployment benefits.
To comply with the new requirements, employers that have not yet registered for an Employer Access account should do so as soon as possible via business.nj.gov. Businesses should implement procedures to ensure submission through the portal shortly after an employee’s separation and should retain proof of submission and reference numbers to demonstrate compliance during a potential audit or investigation. Employers must also continue to provide separated employees with a BC-10 notice containing instructions for filing for unemployment benefits.
If your organization would like assistance reviewing internal policies for compliance with these new requirements, our attorneys are available to help you navigate the evolving employment-law landscape.
