The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is in progress, and close to 60 million workers across the country have joined office pools. As a result, Monmouth County employers may have concerns about the legality of March Madness office pools as well as their effect on office productivity.
State law largely governs unlicensed gambling, such as March madness office pools. New Jersey employers actually have less to worry about than employers in other states. While New Jersey’s state gambling statute prohibits unlicensed gambling, the law contains an exception that appears to apply to low-stakes gambling pools where the organizer (“house”) does not profit.
Therefore, under New Jersey law, a March madness office pool is generally legal under the following circumstances:
It does not involve a large amount of money;
The stakes are the same for all of the participants; and
The organizer does not take a cut.
Nonetheless, the prospect of any type of gambling during office hours may still concern some employers. If a company wants to prohibit office pools for business reasons, it should create a clear written policy. According to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, about 33 percent of companies have employment policies prohibiting workplace gambling, but very few (six percent) have actually disciplined or terminated an employee for violating the policy.
Do Office Pools Decrease Productivity?
The actual effect of office pools on employee productivity is always a hot topic this time of year. As predicted by Chicago-based consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, businesses could have suffered $1.8 billion in lost worker productivity in the first week alone.
To address productivity concerns, management should remind employees that their participation in an office pool is a non-work related activity; therefore, it should not interfere with their job performance.
Are Office Pools All Bad?
Surprisingly, many employers do not think so. According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management, 55 percent of employers believe that office pools may be good for morale.
A Whistleblower Just Filed a Complaint Against Your Company: Here's What to Do Now
Few situations create more uncertainty than learning that an employee has filed a whistleblower complaint. Questions arise immediately: Is the allegation legitimate? Should the employee be placed on leave? Do we need to notify our insurance carrier? Are we now prevented from disciplining the employee if there are unrelated ongoing work related issues? There is […]
Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors: An Alternative to Bankruptcy for Distressed Businesses
When a business reaches the point where it can no longer service its debts or otherwise resolve its liabilities, management is often faced with a difficult question: is a bankruptcy filing necessary or is there another way to perform an orderly liquidation or sale of the business assets? While Chapters 7 and 11 of the […]
Breaking Down New Jersey’s “Mansion” Tax: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know
For many years, the New Jersey Mansion Tax has been a significant consideration in high-value real estate transactions. Recent legislative changes, however, have substantially altered how the tax operates, including who is responsible for paying it and the amount owed in certain transactions. Whether you are purchasing, selling, or investing in New Jersey real estate, […]
Estate Planning for Digital Assets Under New Jersey Law
As our personal and financial lives increasingly move online, estate planning must evolve to address a new category of property: digital assets. From email accounts and social media profiles to cryptocurrency and cloud-stored business records, these assets often carry both financial and sentimental value. Yet, without proper planning, they can become inaccessible—or even lost—upon incapacity […]
The Role of Representation and Warranty Insurance in M&A Transactions
In today’s mergers and acquisitions market, representation and warranty (R&W) insurance has become a common feature of deal negotiations. Once used primarily in larger transactions, R&W insurance is now frequently incorporated into middle-market deals as buyers and sellers look for efficient ways to allocate risk and close deals. When structured properly, R&W insurance can help […]
You Just Received a Federal Grand Jury Subpoena in New Jersey: Now What?
Receiving a federal grand jury subpoena is not something most businesses or individuals anticipate. While it can be concerning, a federal grand jury subpoena does not necessarily mean that you are being accused of wrongdoing. It does, however, mean that a federal criminal investigation is underway and that federal prosecutors believe you may possess information […]
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.
Let`s get in touch!
Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!
