Are you tired hearing about Paid Sick Leave (PSL) yet? Well, be prepared for a lot more because the more we delve into the law the more we all discover little nuances that weren’t readily apparent at the start. As a result, there’s a bit of finessing going on. At last night’s CBA Labor &… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: ctdol
Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition Adds Context to Guide
Posted in Human Resources (HR) ComplianceA couple of months ago, I did a post on a new guide available on the Connecticut Department of Labor website on “Connecticut Breastfeeding Nondiscrimination and Workplace Accommodation Laws.” While I noted that it was a useful document, I also pointed out that there were some areas that could have used a bit more context… Continue Reading
The Paid Sick Leave Issue That May End Up In Court
Posted in Highlight, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Manager & HR Pro’s Resource Center, Wage & HourYesterday, I discussed the carryover rule that requires employers to allow service workers to carry over up to five days of paid sick leave each year. But a loyal blog reader posed the following question to me: Suppose you are an employer that voluntarily offers 12 paid time off (PTO) days at the start of… Continue Reading
Spanish-Language Version of Paid Sick Leave Poster Released
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Manager & HR Pro’s Resource Center, Wage & HourOne of the unique features of Connecticut’s Paid Sick Leave law is the requirement that employers post information about the law in both English and Spanish. At the time the law was passed, I openly questioned how employers were to accomplish this and suggested that the Connecticut Department of Labor consider publishing such a notice… Continue Reading
Get Ready for Some Lifting on Paid Sick Leave Carryover Rules
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Manager & HR Pro’s Resource Center, Wage & HourWe continue with our series of posts (see prior posts here, here, here, and here) on the new Paid Sick Leave Guidance issued by the Connecticut Department of Labor earlier this month. Today’s post focuses on the “carryover” rules. Another issue that the Paid Sick Leave addresses is the “carryover” rules — or how much… Continue Reading
How Do You Count 680 Hours? Carefully, Says New Paid Sick Leave Guidance
Posted in Highlight, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Wage & HourLast week, I touched on a few aspects of the new Paid Sick Leave Guidance that was released by the Connecticut Department of Labor. (For prior posts, see here, here and here.) Today, I continue to discuss the guidance with a look at when service workers can start using accumulated paid sick leave. One of… Continue Reading
Butchers & Bakers Are Covered by Paid Sick Leave Guidance; Not Candlestick Makers
Posted in Highlight, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Manager & HR Pro’s Resource Center, Wage & HourThis is the second in a series of posts on the new Paid Sick Leave Guidance from the Connecticut Department of Labor. Back in June, I discussed who is a “service worker” under the new Paid Sick Leave law. It is a detailed list that includes butchers and bakers but not candlestick makers. It’s not… Continue Reading
Not All Manufacturers Exempt Under Paid Sick Leave Guidance
Posted in Highlight, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Manager & HR Pro’s Resource Center, Uncategorized, Wage & HourWhen I reviewed the Paid Sick Leave Guidance released Friday by the Connecticut Department of Labor, I happened to be in Chicago for the day. And where should I pass by? But Harry Caray’s. The renowned Cubs broadcaster’s catchphrase was “Holy Cow!” And that phrase was stuck in my head for the weekend. Why? Because… Continue Reading
BREAKING: Connecticut DOL Issues Guidance and Poster on Paid Sick Leave
Posted in Featured, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Wage & HourThe Connecticut Department of Labor has issued its long-awaited guidance this morning on the new Paid Leave Law that becomes effective on January 1, 2012. You can download the CTDOL’s guidance here. My cursory review of the guidance indicates that it answers some questions that have been floating out there — albeit in ways that… 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
Connecticut Part of New Governmental Pact on Employee Misclassificiation
Posted in Highlight, Laws and Regulations, Wage & HourWith all the publicity about paid sick leave (effective January 1, 2012 — you’re ready, right?), it’s important not to forget that there are plenty of other employment laws that employers have to consider. Over the last few years, there’s been more agency enforcement centered around employee misclassification — that is treating “real” employees as… Continue Reading
More Publicity for Sick Leave Bill’s “Sleeper” Provision
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Legislative DevelopmentsPower is still out to big parts of the state, but here in Hartford, power is on and life continues. And so must the blog… Back in June, when the Connecticut General Assembly approved of the paid sick leave bill, I was quick to note that the retaliation provisions in the bill seemed to apply… Continue Reading
Hurricane Irene: “Reporting Time” Pay and Other Wage & Hour Issues for Employers
Posted in Featured, Highlight, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Wage & HourSo, by now (Friday morning), your preparations at your workplace should be in full swing. The latest forecasts this morning call for a landfall on Sunday somewhere along the Connecticut coast (perhaps Bridgeport) with hurricane impacts felt throughout the state. Connecticut has set up some new resources since my post yesterday specifically on Hurricane Irene. … Continue Reading
Weekly Payment of Wages and Seeking A Waiver
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Wage & HourIn my continuing series of posts this summer on recurring issues in employment law, this week I’ll address the payment of wages and the question: Can I pay my employees on a bi-weekly basis? The answer to that question is “no” — at least not without a waiver from the Connecticut Department of Labor. Connecticut… 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
CTDOL Sues Employer Claiming “Forfeiture” Provision in Bonus Plan is Invalid
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Wage & HourSuppose your company has an incentive bonus plan that bases a bonus on the specific work done during a calendar year. Bonus payments are made 90 days after the end of the calendar year on an “Award payment date.” But your bonus plan has an important provision. That provision states that “Participants must be employed… Continue Reading
Governor Malloy’s Budget and Department of Labor
Posted in Legislative DevelopmentsGovernor Malloy released his anticipated budget and the changes to the Department of Labor are modest. You can view the whole report (and the DOL portion beginning at 193) here. Rather than dissect the whole thing, here are a few things that caught my eye: The DOL’s Unemployment Insurance Division is big. Very big. And getting… Continue Reading
Governor Taps Union Chief to Serve as New Commissioner of Department of Labor; Former HR Director to be Deputy
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Wage & HourCan a union president and a former HR Director work together effectively? We’ll soon find out at the Connecticut Department of Labor. Governor Dannel Malloy this afternoon selected Glenn Marshall to serve as the new commissioner of the Department of Labor, and picked Dennis Murphy as the agency’s new deputy commissioner. In a press release issued… Continue Reading
Connecticut Department of Labor Requires Larger Employers to Fill Out FMLA Report
Posted in Laws and RegulationsUPDATED 1/20/11 Filling out forms ranks right up there with going to the dentist for me. (Don’t tell him I said that.) I suspect I’m not alone. Which is why I’m sheepish about reminding employers that the Connecticut Department of Labor requires that employers with 75 or more employees as of a date certain, must… Continue Reading
Connecticut Department of Labor Employer Breakfast Series Continues
Posted in Wage & HourThe Connecticut Department of Labor is renewing its breakfast series for employers next month with a timely presentation on the difference between independent contractors and employees. Carl Guzzardi, U.C. Director of Accounts for the U.I. Tax Division, and Resa Spaziani, Field Supervisor for the Wage & Workplace Standards Division from the CT Labor Department are… Continue Reading
Regulations from “Back in the Day” Still Around for Employers to Worry About
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Wage & HourAs I catch up from being at the ABA Annual Meeting, my colleague, Mick Lavelle, prepared this terrific little post about some long-standing labor statutes that employers should not ignore. The Connecticut Department of Labor enforces statutes which were first enacted in the days when payroll records were paper documents, to be stored in filing cabinets. Our… Continue Reading
The Basics: Authorizations for Repayment of Advance for Vacation Pay
Posted in Human Resources (HR) ComplianceContinuing the summer series on the basics of various employment laws in Connecticut, one of the issues that employers have questions on is the withholding of wages. Connecticut’s rule – under Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-71e — states that employers may not withhold wages unless one of three exceptions apply: the employer is required or empowered… Continue Reading
A Slice of Heaven? More Followup from the Pizzaria Child Labor Case
Posted in Wage & HourAre the owners of a pizza of the pizza restaurant who filed suit challenging the state’s child labor laws making a mountain out of a molehill? A new report by the Advocate newspapers this week suggests that is the case. It’s worth the read. It’s something I’ve been wondering about as well because what was… Continue Reading
Why the Connecticut Supreme Court’s Ruling in ‘Ziotas’ is Significant to Employers
Posted in Wage & HourYesterday, I discussed the Connecticut Supreme Court’s decision in Ziotas v. The Reardon Law Firm, in which the court held that a bonus does not constitute "wages" when the bonus is discretionary and is not ascertainable by applying a formula. I’ve also discussed the background of the case in a prior post which I won’t… 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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