This election, seven states and the District of Columbia passed expansive marijuana laws that permitted the recreational use of marijuana or cannabinoids. This means that within these states and the District of Columbia people can openly smoke or ingest cannabis with no criminal repercussions. While Connecticut has not embraced this libertine attitude toward marijuana use, […]
Election Day is rapidly approaching and voter turnout is expected to be particularly high. While many states have laws providing time off for employees to vote, Connecticut is not one of them. How should employers handle requests for time off to vote? Polls in Connecticut are open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. A voter […]
Effective July 1, 2016, local or regional boards of education, governing councils of state or local charter schools and inter-district magnet school operators (collectively “BOEs”), are going to have to follow new requirements for hiring education personnel. The state legislature recently enacted Public Act 16-67 (“the Act”) in response to a new provision in the […]
Election season is here and the evidence can be viewed all around an employer’s campus: from bumper stickers on the cars in the parking lots; buttons festooned to employees; even screen savers on company computers; now more than ever broadcasting your support is easy. However, with that support may come problems for the workplace. Connecticut’s […]
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 increasingly common in states and municipalities throughout the United States. The new Connecticut legislation, known as […]
In a decision that marks a clear departure from national case law, the Connecticut Supreme Court recently expanded the protection of employees who speak out against their employers. In Trusz v. UBS Realty Investors the Connecticut Supreme Court rejected the standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court as to the U.S. Constitution, ruling, in effect, that the […]
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 company health care plan automatically, while allowing them the option to decline coverage. Most employer plans […]
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 to do so. Refresher training is encouraged, but not required. It is also beneficial to provide […]
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 update their handbooks and training materials to ensure that interns receive the same protections as employees […]
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 and overtime owed), accrued fringe benefits, or arbitration award. The new law […]
