The General Assembly is always full of surprises.    It’s the busy season for the Connecticut legislature and a number of employment-law related proposals are still “alive”. 

(I use “alive” in the generic sense because the bills have merely passed committee; whether they will end up getting voted on is an entirely different question. For further updates from a business-perspective, the CBIA has been providing weekly updates.) 

So what are some bills to keep an eye on?

• House Bill 5235 would amend the personnel files laws and give employees the right to receive discipline notices.  It would also require employers to tell employees in writing of their right to dispute what is in their personnel file in writing if they receive such notices. 
• House Bill 5291 would raise the minimum wage by 50 cents next year, and an additional 50 cents the year after.  Adjustments thereafter would be made to keep up with the cost of living.  There aren’t many who think this bill will get passed this year, though. 
• Senate Bill 155 would allow employers to pay an employee’s salary using payroll (or debit-type) cards. That bill has been considered for several years; is this year the year?
• Senate Bill 184 would amend the Connecticut FMLA law to make it clear that the “75 or more employee” requirement means that you only count Connecticut employees.  Presently, that issue is before the Connecticut Supreme Court in a case that was argued in late January 2012.
•  Senate Bill 79 would prohibit employers from discriminating against the unemployed in job advertisements.  It is a scaled back version of an earlier proposal; still no word on whether such a bill will be considered.   

The legislative session ends on May 9, 2012.  Expect the unexpected over the next few weeks.