sick days

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Five years ago during summer, I posted a series of questions for employers to think about during the summer season.  I figured it was time to take a look back at them and update them.

Vacations/Paid Time Off — Vacations are a common part of the summer season. Some companies use “Paid Time Off”, while…

Employers in Connecticut have less than two months to get ready before the new Paid Sick Leave law goes into effect. If only that were the only new development.

Visits to the Doctor's Office May be Covreed

A few months ago, my firm held a sold-out seminar to address these new developments and much more. Because of overwhelming demand, we are putting on that complimentary program again on December 1, 2011 in Norwalk, CT.  Space and attendance is limited.

For more information, contact my firm at (203) 330-2059 or via e-mail at seminar@pullcom.com and someone will get back to you.   This program is geared to private employers, their in-house counsel, and HR representatives so keep that in mind.

In addition to the educational component, we have two excellent speakers as well: Chris Bruhl, President and CEO of the Business Council of Fairfield County, will be the breakfast speaker and Deputy Labor Commissioner Dennis Murphy will be our lunch speaker.

Here are the particulars:Continue Reading Paid Sick Leave and What Employers Need to Know: A Seminar

This morning, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of some pretty smart people in the hospitality industry about Connecticut’s Paid Sick Leave law, which goes into effect on January 1, 2012.  After all, with the movie Contagion as the nation’s number one movie, sickness is something on people’s minds.

(I’ve previously…

With all the legislative developments in Connecticut over the last year or so, it’s tough to keep track of all of the changes that your company needs to consider to update your employee handbook and employment policies.

Here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of some of the changes to consider with a link to more information on each of them.

1) For your EEO policies, be sure to add “gender identity” as a protected category.   You may also want to consider adding language that your company will not discriminate based on “any other protected category under state or federal law” to protect you.
Continue Reading The Seven Updates To Consider to Your Employee Handbook

As employers in Connecticut know, state and federal laws differ when it comes to paying overtime. Some employees (like computer professionals) are exempt from overtime obligations under federal law, but not under state law.

The new Paid Sick Leave bill just makes a mess of this distinction even further.

How?

Well, the definition of “service…

Senate Bill 913, as amended, contains one of the longest and wordiest definitions you’ll see in employment law.  What is it for? It defines who is a “service worker” and thus potentially covered if the employee is also hourly and non-exempt under federal (not state) law.  (Day and temporary workers are also excluded.).

According to the bill, it means “an employee primarily engaged in an occupation with one of the following broad or detailed occupation code numbers and titles, as defined by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupational Classification system or any successor system”

They are as follows (I have removed the code numbers for ease of reading, but they can be found in the bill itself if necessary):

  • Food Service Managers;
  • Medical and Health Services Managers;
  • Social Workers;

    Occupations and Their Codes are More Important Than Ever

  • Social and Human Service Assistants;
  • Community Health Workers;
  • Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other;
  • Librarians;
  • Pharmacists;
  • Physician Assistants;
  • Therapists;
  • Registered Nurses;
  • Nurse Anesthetists;
  • Nurse Midwives;
  • Nurse Practitioners;
  • Dental Hygienists;
  • Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics;
  • Health Practitioner Support Technologists and Technicians;
  • Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses;
  • Home Health Aides;
  • Nursing Aides, Orderlies and Attendants;
  • Psychiatric Aides;
  • Dental Assistants;
  • Medical Assistants;
  • Security Guards;
  • Crossing Guards;
  • Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers;
  • Cooks;
  • Food Preparation Workers;
  • Bartenders;
    Continue Reading Who is a “Service Worker” Under the Paid Sick Leave Bill? Butchers, Bakers, Not Candlestick Makers

Early Saturday morning, the Connecticut General Assembly passed two bills that will have a significant impact on employers in Connecticut.  Both bills now need to be signed by the Governor (who has indicated he will sign them).

First, the Senate passed House Bill 6599, which adds “gender identity or expression” as a new protected…