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

Tag Archives: ziotas

CTDOL Sues Employer Claiming “Forfeiture” Provision in Bonus Plan is Invalid

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Wage & Hour

Suppose 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

Webinar Series is Back: Classification and Compensation Issues for Employers

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

After a brief hiatus, our free monthly webinar series is back.  On November 3, 2010 (from 12-1 p.m. EDT), my colleagues Jonathan Orleans and Tiffany Kouri will address two hot topics in employment law: State and federal authorities are focusing attention on the distinction between employees and independent contractors. Misclassification can expose employers to liability… Continue Reading

Breaking: Connecticut Supreme Court Finds A Bonus Can Constitute “Wages”, in the Right Case

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Litigation, Wage & Hour

Back in June, the Connecticut Supreme Court issued its decision in Ziotas v. The Reardon Law Firm — a significant ruling because it found that where a bonus is discretionary and is not ascertainable by applying a formula, it did not constitute "wages".  I talked about the case in a lengthy post and noted that… Continue Reading

Law Tribune Provides Background on Bonus Case and Cites To Blog

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Litigation, Wage & Hour

Earlier this month, I talked about how a new case from the Connecticut Supreme Court could have an impact on bonus plans for employers. The Connecticut Law Tribune this week  (subscription required) echoes many of my sentiments. The Tribune states that some employment lawyers believe it is going to have a "wider impact", while others believe… Continue Reading

Why the Connecticut Supreme Court’s Ruling in ‘Ziotas’ is Significant to Employers

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Wage & Hour

Yesterday, 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

BREAKING: Conn. Supreme Court Holds that a Year-End Discretionary Bonus Does Not Constitute “Wages”

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Wage & Hour

In a decision that will be officially released next week, the Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled that a year-end bonus — the amount of which is discretionary — does not constitute "wages" under Connecticut wage & hour laws. The decision, Ziotas v. The Reardon Law Firm (download here), reverses an appellate court decision to the… Continue Reading