A day after Gov. Phil Murphy provided a phone number to file complaints against employers in New Jersey violating his executive order to work from him if possible to combat the coronavirus became so overloaded that it interfered with emergency calls, the governor’s office provided an online form to report businesses in violation.

“If you believe an employer, organization, or entity is violating any part of Executive Order 107, please complete this form,” reads text from a state website where residents can provide information about a business that is requiring workers to come into the office if they have the ability to work from home.

On Tuesday, Murphy said New Jersey employers should not be forcing their workers to go to their offices if those people are able to do their jobs remotely.

The governor said state officials have received numerous reports that companies were flouting his executive order that requires “all businesses or non-profits in the state, whether closed or open to the public, must accommodate their workforce, wherever practicable, for telework or work-from-home arrangements."

“My executive order is not a polite suggestion,” Murphy said sternly Tuesday at Rutgers-Newark during his daily coronavirus press briefing.

“It is an order,” the governor said. “No one, and I mean no one, who can do their job from home should be going to the office.”

Murphy shared a phone number for people to report businesses. By 3:30 p.m, the call line was overwhelmed with phone numbers, and people found their calls redirected to other state offices.

Shortly after NJ Advance Media posted the story with the telephone number, a State Police official asked the number to be taken down because the phone line was getting overloaded and it was interfering with emergency calls.

Murphy’s order to work from home is for non-essential businesses.

“To the extent a business or non-profit has employees that cannot perform their functions via telework or work-from-home arrangements, the business or non-profit should make best efforts to reduce staff on-site to the minimal number necessary to ensure that essential operations can continue,” the order reads.

“Examples of employees who need to be physically present at their worksite in order to perform their duties include, but are not limited to, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders, cashiers or store clerks, construction workers, utility workers, repair workers, warehouse workers, lab researchers, information technology maintenance workers, janitorial and custodial staff, and certain administrative staff.”

ESSENTIAL RETAIL BUSINESSES THAT CAN STAY OPEN

Grocery stores

Farmers markets and farms that sell directly to customers

Other food stores, including retailers that offer a varied assortment of foods comparable to what exists at a grocery store

Pharmacies

Medical marijuana dispensaries

Medical supply stores

Gas stations

Convenience stores

Ancillary stores within healthcare facilities

Hardware and home improvement stores

Banks and other financial institutions

Laundromats and dry-cleaning services

Stores that principally sell supplies for children under five years

Pet stores

Liquor stores

Car dealerships, but only for auto maintenance and repair, and auto mechanics

Printing and office supply shops

Mail and delivery stores

Restaurants, though only takeout and delivery.

On Tuesday evening, he added five businesses to the list:

Mobile phone retail and repair shops

Bicycle shops, but only to provide service and repairs

Livestock feed stores

Nurseries and garden stores

Farming equipment stores

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.

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