I am a minor in NJ and my employer makes me go to another one of their locations, 15 miles away, to pick up my check. I am told that the only way to eliminate this is to sign up for a direct deposit. Is this leagal in NJ?

Yes, it is legal.

But, I think you can request them to send the check to you if you don't mind waiting for it a few days. most people would rather drive than wait. direct deposit would end it, however. Finally, the Employer cannot issue a check from a bank which would make the payee incur a cost in cashing the check. What the law says is (in paraphrasing) that employees are to paid in cash unless the employee agrees to a check, however if a cehck is issued, it must be cashable at a bank without difficulty and in the full amount of the check.

many companies issue checks from whichever bank they have accounts at, not realising that many banks either charge a fee for cashing or, some nowadays, refuse to cash checks unless an account holder at the same bank. NJSA 34:11-4.2. Once in a while you hear a case on this, usually single isntances, but I'm waiting for a class action against, say Lucent or IBM or Ford or etc in this state by a class of employees, such as migrant workers or etc. who don't have accounts and live "off the grid". They always get stuck with the cashing fee at big banks, but I guess they don't say anything probably due to their immigration status and since they aren't likely to know the law.

curt j.