The state of Connecticut is preparing for changes to paid sick leave requirements that will affect private-sector employees beginning Jan 1.
“While Connecticut was the first state to require private employers to provide paid sick leave, its current statute is limited in coverage, as it only applies to employers with 50 or more employees in the state and only requires such employers to provide paid sick leave to employees who meet the definition of service worker (as defined by law),” according to attorneys at Proskauer Rose. “The new law will eliminate the service worker criteria, so that all Connecticut employees are eligible for paid sick leave (with limited exceptions for seasonal employees and certain unionized employees).”
Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signed a bill with the changes in May. Implementation is staggered across three phases through 2027.
Effective Jan. 1, the requirements will apply to companies that employ 25 or more employees in the state; effective Jan. 1, 2026, companies that with 11 or more workers in the state must comply; and effective Jan. 1, 2027, companies that have at least one employee in the state will be covered by the law.
The new law prohibits employers from requiring their workers to provide documentation to support their reasons for taking leave. Additionally, workers no longer will be required to give their employers advance notice about a foreseeable leave. The new law also allows employees to use sick time not only for themselves but to care for a family member.
Under existing law, eligible employees accrue one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked. The new law expands accrual time to one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers will be able to carry over 40 hours of sick leave from year to year under most circumstances.
“In lieu of carryover, employers will be able to frontload the full amount of paid sick leave to employees for their immediate use at the start of each year,” the Proaskauer Rose attorneys said.
Source: McKnights Seniorliving