As a further sign that things are moving more back to normal (whatever normal is these days), the CHRO has released the public hearings schedule for matters before the agency. You can view the schedule here. Most of the calendar consists of status conferences, but if you’ve had a case that has been pending at… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: chro
CHRO Proposes New Equal Employment Opportunity Plan Regulations & Hearing
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Laws and RegulationsThe Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) has released proposed new regulations that would require state agencies and the like to create an Equal Employment Opportunity Plan. These regulations would not apply to private employers so many of you can dispense with the worrying. The proposed regulations will replace the current ones. The CHRO… Continue Reading
CHRO Attorney Agrees Emphasis at Agency “Has Shifted From MAR to Mediation”
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Legislative DevelopmentsEarlier this week, I wrote about the perception among some that the CHRO has been retaining more cases for investigation by letting more cases through the Merit Assessment Review. These cases that used to be dismissed — mainly “frivolous” ones as I’ve collectively termed them — mean more headaches for employers who have to spend… Continue Reading
Are Any Cases Getting Thrown Out as “Frivolous” at the CHRO Anymore?
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Discrimination & Harassment, Laws and Regulations, LitigationAs I’ve noted before, the CHRO procedures were changed effective October 1, 2011. One question that we had at the time was whether the CHRO would be retaining more discrimination claims by employees for investigation — getting past the Merit Assessment Review stage. Previously, employers have had at least a little luck getting plainly… Continue Reading
Numbers Show That Sexual Harassment Claims on the Decline
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Discrimination & HarassmentDid he or didn’t he? That’s what political pundits and others have been debating the last few weeks regarding presidential candidate Herman Cain. But a more interesting question is whether claims of sexual harassment are on the rise or not. Indeed, lost in the public discourse is a fact that isn’t talked about a lot:… Continue Reading
New Procedures for CHRO – A Powerpoint (Program Recap – Part III)
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Laws and RegulationsContinuing my series of posts on the public program produced by the CHRO on new Public Act 11-237 (for prior posts go here and here), the remainder of the program focused on the changes to the CHRO procedures including a new early mediation option. Various legal staff members provided the details on the new act… Continue Reading
The Whole New World of the CHRO in a Powerpoint (Program Recap – Part II)
Posted in CHRO & EEOCYesterday, I recapped part of the CHRO program on the new Public Act 11-237 which revises the procedures for processing and investigating complaints. Next up was CHRO Principal Attorney Charles Krich. (Careful blog readers may note that he comments on the blog from time to time.) First off, Charlie gets kudos from me just for… Continue Reading
CHRO’s Executive Director: We’ll Do It Faster (Program Recap – Part I)
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Highlight, Laws and RegulationsAs I’ve saying for a few weeks now, I was asked to be part of a panel discussion sponsored by the CHRO today on the impact and implications of Public Act 11-237 on the practice before the agency. There were several powerpoints used and there was lots discussed. I will share various points in some… Continue Reading
CHRO and CTDOL Reach Out to Businesses
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Wage & HourWell, you have to give the state some credit for trying. As I mentioned yesterday, I’ll be speaking today at a program run by the CHRO about the new law the changes the CHRO’s procedures. It appears to be part of a concerted effort by various agencies to reach out to businesses in the state… Continue Reading
Interested in the CHRO’s New Procedures? Thursday’s the Day
Posted in CHRO & EEOCOn Thursday morning, October 20th, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities is having an informational session on Public Act 11-237 — the new law that changes the procedures before the CHRO. The session will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Old Judiciary Room at the State Capitol. It’s… Continue Reading
Audit Highlights Significant Issues with CHRO
Posted in CHRO & EEOCA new state auditor’s report released this month shows that the CHRO continues to struggle with compliance with statutory timeframes. The report — which can be downloaded here — shows that from 2007-2009, 56 percent of the cases exceeded the statutory maximum of 370 days. As the report notes, “the longer it takes to… Continue Reading
What’s New With the CHRO? Nothing…and Everything
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Laws and Regulations, Legislative DevelopmentsThe CHRO — the state agency responsible for investigating discrimination complaints in Connecticut — is going to a time of profound change. But it is also going through a period of stagnation. Where and when things will settle down remains a good question. Why is it stagnating? Well, the agency has been without Human Rights… Continue Reading
Governor Proposes Closing CHRO’s Waterbury Office
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Legislative DevelopmentsUPDATED: The cuts to the CHRO keep coming. Governor Malloy this morning released his plan to reduce the size of government — should a deal with the state labor unions not be struck. The plan calls for the elimination of the CHRO’s Waterbury Office (page 35) and the elimination of other staff positions. All told,… Continue Reading
A Modest Proposal for What Happens Next for the CHRO
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Discrimination & Harassment, Legislative DevelopmentsUPDATED 7/7/11 With yesterday’s stunning announcement that all proceedings at the Office of Public Hearings are suspended indefinitely (see this notice), the question that arises is: What Happens Next? The answer is only known to the Governor and staff at the CHRO. But last year, my law partner, Joshua Hawks-Ladds published a way forward. How?… Continue Reading
Malloy’s Plan B – Big Cuts to DOL, CHRO, Judicial Branch
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Legislative DevelopmentsThe other shoe has dropped. For now. Governor Malloy late today released his official “Plan B” detailing the layoffs expected as a result of the union concession vote. And it’s ugly. It calls for a 15 percent staff reduction at the Department of Labor, 30 percent reduction at the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities,… Continue Reading
Imagine If There’s No CHRO. It’s Not Easy If You Try.
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Legislative DevelopmentsImagine there’s no ….. A few years ago it would have been unfathomable to be considering life in Connecticut without a Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. After all, it is a necessary step in filing a discrimination complaint in this state. Imagining a Connecticut without the CHRO? No way. But suddenly, dramatically, here we… Continue Reading
Appellate Court’s Footnote Suggests Faults in CHRO’s Interpretation of Emotional Distress Damages
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Discrimination & HarassmentBack in February 2009, I talked at length about whether compensatory damages (for things such as emotional distress) was properly awarded in employment discrimination claims that proceeded to a hearing at the CHRO. I went on to say back then that I believed the agency and the human rights referees at the agency had been… Continue Reading
General Assembly Approves Significant Changes to CHRO Process
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Legislative DevelopmentsThe dust is still settling on the flurry of activity in the closing hours of the General Assembly last night. It’s going to take a few days to get caught up on all the bills that were passed. Watch for more updates soon. One of the bills that will merit a closer look is House… Continue Reading
It’s Snow Joke: EEOC Statistics Show Increasing Numbers of Retaliation Cases Filed, But Then What?
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Human Resources (HR) ComplianceNews flash: Record snows in Connecticut! Second news flash: Record numbers of people are out of work and filing complaints of discrimination at the EEOC nationwide! Here’s the thing with both news flashes: They’re not entirely unexpected. Sure, they’re in higher amounts than we’re accustomed to seeing, but both can be explained. (I’ll leave it… Continue Reading
Employment Discrimination Complaints at CHRO Up Slightly in 2009-2010
Posted in CHRO & EEOCThe conventional wisdom in a down economy is that employment discrimination claims will skyrocket. While there have been some indications of that at a national level, the numbers in Connecticut tell a very different story. The state agency in Connecticut responsible for investigating discrimination complaints recently released its annual report (download here) for the fiscal… Continue Reading
Guest Post: Statutes of Limitations in Discrimination Cases — When Is It Too Late for an Employee To Sue?
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Discrimination & Harassment, Laws and Regulations, LitigationMy thanks to my colleague, Mick Lavelle, who has drafted the following post on a noteworthy issue decided today by the Connecticut Appellate Court. For employers with long-standing discrimination claims, it’s worth understanding what the statute of limitations are on such claims. Most employers know that claims of employment discrimination can be brought under two… Continue Reading
The Basics: What It Takes To File a Employment Discrimination Lawsuit
Posted in Discrimination & Harassment, LitigationNewspapers this week seem enraptured with the idea that an employment discrimination lawsuit is news. It shouldn’t be. Why? Because all that a discrimination lawsuit is — by its fundamental nature — is a set of allegations against an employer. Nothing more, nothing less. That doesn’t mean, of course, that each lawsuit that is brought… Continue Reading
Quick Hits: Paycheck Fairness Act, CHRO, Employee Misclassification, Amara v. CIGNA followup
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Discrimination & Harassment, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Legislative Developments, Wage & HourIt’s a big holiday today. So, let me be the first to say: Happy Evacuation Day — at least to my fellow blogger at Compliance Building. To everyone else, a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Its been some time since my last look around the employment law universe, so here’s some quick hits of what else… Continue Reading
Bill Allowing Complainants to Get A Quick Release from CHRO Gets a Makeover (And Moves On)
Posted in CHRO & EEOC, Legislative DevelopmentsEarlier this month, I posted on a bill pending before the Connecticut General Assembly that would have changed the statute of limitations for filing employment discrimination claims and allowed a Complainant to ask for a release of jurisdiction of the CHRO as soon as possible. This week, the Labor & Public Employee Committee approved of… Continue Reading
About Daniel Schwartz
Trusted advisor. Experienced employment law attorney. Bar leader. Award-winning author. Noted Speaker. "Legal Rebel". All can be said to be apt descriptions of Daniel Schwartz, a member of Pullman & Comley. More +
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