In a recently released decision, CHRO v. Echo Hose Ambulance, et al, a unanimous Supreme Court affirmed the Appellate Court’s dismissal of the CHRO’s appeal of a human rights referee’s determination that a volunteer was not an employee for purposes of Connecticut Fair...
Connecticut Law Limits Criminal Inquiries on Employment Applications
On January 1, 2017, Connecticut will “ban the box” for private employers, as well as public employers. “Ban the box” laws prohibit employers from asking questions about criminal background on employment applications, with some exceptions. Such laws are becoming...
Reminder – Connecticut Minimum Wage Rises to $9.60 on January 1
Connecticut employers must begin paying $9.60 per hour to their employees on January 1, 2016 as part of legislation designed to raise the state minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2017. For restaurant waitstaff who receive sufficient gratuities, the employer must pay...
Portion of Affordable Care Act Requiring Automatic Enrollment for Some Employer Plans Repealed
Since the Affordable Care Act’s enactment in March, 2010, employers with 200+ employees have been awaiting the implementation of regulations that would explain the automatic enrollment rule. Employers with 200+ employees would have had to enroll employees in the...
Connecticut Mandates Sexual Harassment Training for Supervisors – Are You in Compliance?
Employers with 50 or more employees in Connecticut must provide sexual harassment training to supervisors within six months of the individual assuming a supervisory position. While other employers are not mandated to provide such training, it is strongly encouraged...
Two Significant Changes to Law Surrounding Internships
Connecticut employers need to be aware of two significant changes in the law surrounding internships. The first is a new state statute including unpaid interns in the protections afforded to employees with respect to discrimination and harassment. Employers should...
New Connecticut Law is Double Trouble for Employers
Wage violations are about to get more costly for Connecticut employers. A new statute, effective October 1, 2015, requires courts to award double damages plus court costs and attorneys’ fees if an employer has failed to pay an employee’s wages (including minimum wage...
Snow Days Come With Employer Obligations – Are You Prepared?
For employers, preparing for winter weather includes ensuring all employees are paid properly on snow days. Many employers are surprised to learn that their payroll does not take a snow day when their employees do. While snow days are probably the most common...
After-Acquired Evidence Permitted to Prove Non-Discriminatory Basis for Termination
Most of the time, when an employer terminates an employee, and that employee sues, a court will not let an employer introduce evidence uncovered after the decision to terminate. However an exception has been added due to a recent decision by the Second Circuit Court...
Are you Prepared for OSHA’s New Workplace Reporting Rules?
Beginning January 1, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) will begin enforcing its new workplace reporting rules which requires quicker reporting of severe injuries within 24-hours and an employment fatality within 8-hours. The time to...