Tag: Connecticut

Connecticut Expands Paid Sick Leave

Recently, Connecticut significantly expanded its paid sick leave law. Among other changes, the law will apply to more (and eventually all) Connecticut employers and will allow employees to use paid sick leave for illnesses suffered by a broader array of family members. Original Paid Sick Leave Law Connecticut originally passed a paid sick leave law […]

Working while on vacation, home office injuries, and tandem lay-off meetings

Employees go on vacation, but business doesn’t stop. So sometimes workers are asked to put in time when they’re expecting to be kicking back at the beach. Working from home is a popular arrangement, but what are the workers’ compensation implications when an employee is injured in a home office? Lay-off meetings are never easy, […]

Medical marijuana law takes effect in Connecticut Oct. 1

by Jonathan C. Sterling As of October 1, Connecticut employers need to make sure they’re in compliance with the state’s new medical marijuana law. Under the law, employers of one or more employees are prohibited from refusing to hire, discharging, penalizing, or threatening an employee solely on the basis of his status as a “qualifying […]

Connecticut Restricts Using Credit Scores in Hiring

By John Herrington On October 1, Connecticut becomes the most recent state to limit employers’ use of credit histories in employment decisions. The state joins Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, and Washington in making restrictions. The new law – Public Act No. 11-223 – prohibits any Connecticut employer with more than one employee from requiring “an […]

NLRB Backs Employee’s Right to Bad-Mouth Supervisor on Facebook

by Jonathan Sterling and James Goodfellow An employer’s blogging and social networking policy that prohibits employees from posting disparaging comments online about coworkers or their employer has been deemed unlawful by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The NLRB recently issued a complaint and notice of hearing against American Medical Response of Connecticut (AMR), an […]

‘Unable to Socialize’ Doesn’t Necessarily Mean ‘Unable to Work’

by Jonathan C. Sterling If an employee whose job involves talking on the phone and using a computer states under oath that he is unable to perform those tasks because of a disability, it’s logical to assume he can’t do his job. However, as a recent federal appellate court decision demonstrates, that may not always […]

Salesperson Not Subject to Administrative Exemption from Overtime Pay

by Jonathan C. Sterling Because one of the most difficult tasks HR professionals face is determining whether their employees are exempt, each time a decision is issued on the topic by an appeals court, it’s worth noting and taking guidance from. The latest decision from the Second Circuit relates to the administrative exemption, which applies […]

Will Gender, National Origin Make a Difference in Sotomayor’s Jurisprudence? – Part 1

by James M. Sconzo and James C. Goodfellow Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court has triggered a classic clash of left versus right. Those speculating on how Judge Sotomayor might rule on key constitutional issues have characterized her as everything from a level-headed jurist who applies the law to the facts of the […]

Will Gender, National Origin Make a Difference in Sotomayor’s Jurisprudence? – Part 2

by James M. Sconzo and James C. Goodfellow Last week, we disussed the overall makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court and the personal background of the High Court’s newest nominee, Sonia Sotomayor. We also looked at Judge Sotomayor’s decision in the discrimination case filed by New Haven, Connecticut, firefighters which was recently overturned by the […]

Pregnancy Complications: Disability, No; Sex Discrimination, Maybe

By John C. Pitblado By now, you know that the old “sticks and stones” schoolyard adage is way off: Words can hurt you. You may be surprised to find out how few words (in this case, a 12-word phrase in an e-mail) it takes to really hurt an employer that’s facing a discrimination claim. HR […]