Connecticut Employment Law Blog Insight on Labor & Employment Developments for Connecticut Businesses

Tag Archives: public employer

Back Again? After Remanding Case Once, Second Circuit This Time Finds for Employer on First Amendment Claims

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Litigation

In broad terms, the First Amendment prohibits public employers from retaliating against employees who engage in "protected speech".   (Connecticut has a statute, Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-51q that purports to apply the First Amendment to private employers too.)  But proving these cases remains difficult for employees.   And even victories may later end up as defeats… Continue Reading

School Board Considers Social Media Usage Policy for Teachers, Other Employees

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Social Media

For a few years now, I’ve been describing how social media policies are moving into the mainstream.  No longer can employers simply cover their eyes and ears to what is going on with Facebook and Twitter. Example No. 592: West Hartford, Connecticut is considering a policy that would place certain restrictions on what school employees say,… Continue Reading

Rell Vetoes Bill Limiting Use of Criminal Background Checks for State Applicants

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Legislative Developments

I can’t say I saw this one coming. I’ve previously reported on a bill (H.B. 5207) that passed the legislature.  That bill restricts the use of background checks for prospective state employees until after job offers have been made. Yesterday, Governor Rell vetoed the measure (H/T CT Mirror). In her veto message, she states that while… Continue Reading

No Criminal Background Checks? Proposed Bill Would Limit Use for Public Employers

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Legislative Developments

Connecticut state law has long made it plain that the "policy of the state to encourage all employers to give favorable consideration to providing jobs to qualified individuals, including those who may have criminal conviction records." (Conn. Gen. Stat. 46a-79.)   In a prior post, I’ve discussed how state law does not prohibit private employers from… Continue Reading