Welcome to the party, Connecticut.
For years, I’ve highlighted outdated employment laws and regulations in Connecticut that should be written off the books. As I’ve noted time and again (and again), it’s very easy for laws to get put on the books. But it’s very hard for them to get taken off.
Now comes word that the Connecticut Department of Labor is finally reviewing some of its regulations after being “stunned” that some of them were still on the books. According to a story in today’s Hartford Courant:
State labor commissioner Sharon Palmer could hardly believe it when her staff generated a list of state regulations that should be eliminated. They had been acting under a directive from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to search for obsolete regulations that could be wiped off the state books.
One of the regulations they found – still on the books today – says that no woman can work alone between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.
“Is that funny or what?’’ Palmer said Thursday as she burst out laughing. “We’re not sure how old it is. It could be 50 or 60 years old. We’re not sure. Very, very old. … I think it could go back to the turn of the century.’’
I appreciate Commissioner Palmer’s sense of humor. However, why stop at just a few of these regulations that aren’t enforced? It’s time that the state review all of the employment laws that are still, well, actual laws that are outdated too.
How about the law restricting telegraph services at night particularly since there are NO MORE TELEGRAPH SERVICES around?
And what about the law on “Home Workers” law that still refers to “women and children” in its coverage. Yep, still on the books.
And don’t forget that “No laundry work shall be done in any public laundry in a room used as a sleeping or living room.” Whatever that means.
There are plenty more and a while back I put together a few for starters. Take a look and let’s get this done, Connecticut.