Connecticut lawmakers have put forward a bill that would grant paid sick leave to thousands of workers who are not eligible under current law.
In 2011, Connecticut became the first state in the country to pass a law requiring private employers to provide certain employees at least 40 hours of paid sick leave every year. A decade later, though, several other states have passed sick leave laws that grant sick time to more employees under more circumstances than Connecticut does.
Connecticut law guarantees time off only for certain service workers at companies that employ 50 or more people. As a result, thousands of hourly employees who work at small businesses are left out. So are domestic workers, temporary or day laborers and employees of manufacturing companies or non-profit organizations. Further, workers who qualify for sick leave must work 680 hours before they can take it, which puts new and part-time employees in a difficult position.
If House Bill 6537 becomes law, it would expand Connecticut’s paid sick leave law as follows:
All employers, regardless of size or industry, would be required to provide employees up to 40 hours of sick time annually.
The “service worker” limitation would be eliminated, making domestic and manufacturing workers eligible.
The 680-hour requirement would be eliminated, allowing workers to take sick time right away if needed.
Workers could use sick time to care for a spouse, child, grandparent or grandchild, parent, sibling or any other blood family member.
Notably, the new bill comes on the heels of Connecticut’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA), which will entitle employees at companies of all sizes up to 12 weeks of paid leave beginning in 2022. Prior to the PFMLA, employers with 75 or more employees were required to provide 16 weeks of leave, but it was unpaid.
If HB 6537 passes, it will work in conjunction with the PFMLA to create a very strong system of employee family leave and sick leave. As attorneys who handle employment law issues for employees, we believe this is a positive development for workers and for business as well.
At Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C., our attorneys represent employees in all matters involving workplace issues. If you would like to speak with a lawyer, please call 203-745-0942 or contact us online. Our Hamden and East Haven offices are open, and we are available to meet via phone or video conference as well.
Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C. is located in Hamden, CT and serves clients in and around North Haven, Hamden, Waterbury, Bethany, Milford, Wallingford, Prospect, Woodbridge, Northford, Madison, Beacon Falls, Branford, Cheshire, North Branford, East Haven, Naugatuck, Meriden, Ansonia and New Haven County.
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