Novak v. Camden County Health Services Center Board of Managers

BAIME, J.A.D.

This appeal requires us to reconcile two apparently inconsistent statutes. N.J.S.A. 34:15-44 provides that an injured public employee must remain on the payroll while receiving workers’ compensation benefits. N.J.S.A. 11A:8-1 states that a permanent public employee may be laid off for economy, efficiency or other related reasons. At issue is whether a public employee who is currently receiving workers’ compensation benefits may be discharged along with others in a general reduction in force caused by budgetary problems.

Plaintiff Eleanor Novak was employed by defendant Camden…