On June 10, 2016, the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration (SBMA) announced it would be raising the filing fees for grievance arbitration for the first time in at least 17 years (the last time the regulation was amended). Effective July 1, 2016, the fee for submitting a grievance to the SBMA for arbitration took […]
In a recently released decision, CHRO v. Echo Hose Ambulance, et al, a unanimous Supreme Court affirmed the Appellate Court’s dismissal of the CHRO’s appeal of a human rights referee’s determination that a volunteer was not an employee for purposes of Connecticut Fair Employment Practice Act, Conn, Gen. Stat. §461-60, et seq. (“CFEPA”) The issue before […]
On January 1, 2017, Connecticut will “ban the box” for private employers, as well as public employers. “Ban the box” laws prohibit employers from asking questions about criminal background on employment applications, with some exceptions. Such laws are becoming increasingly common in states and municipalities throughout the United States. The new Connecticut legislation, known as […]
The U.S. Department of Labor just issued its final rule, requiring minimum wage and overtime for some employees who are currently “exempt” from these requirements. Employers need to plan ahead for implementation, as the rule change could lead to seismic shifts in some payrolls. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) requires that employees receive […]
A much anticipated decision was released last week in which the U.S. Supreme Court was deadlocked (4 to 4) on a challenge to so called “service fees” charged to employees who opt out of union membership. The lawsuit was based upon a lawsuit brought by a number of California teachers who objected to being required […]
In a decision that marks a clear departure from national case law, the Connecticut Supreme Court recently expanded the protection of employees who speak out against their employers. In Trusz v. UBS Realty Investors the Connecticut Supreme Court rejected the standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court as to the U.S. Constitution, ruling, in effect, that the […]
Connecticut employers must begin paying $9.60 per hour to their employees on January 1, 2016 as part of legislation designed to raise the state minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2017. For restaurant waitstaff who receive sufficient gratuities, the employer must pay $7.82 per hour under the new minimum wage, but the employee must […]
As an employer, you’ve worked hard to put together an attractive benefits package – vacation, insurance, retirement benefits, and maybe even some unusual perks. But many benefits go unutilized or underutilized, and retirement benefits requiring employee involvement are no exception. As defined benefit plans – pension plans that provide a set amount of income in […]
Since the Affordable Care Act’s enactment in March, 2010, employers with 200+ employees have been awaiting the implementation of regulations that would explain the automatic enrollment rule. Employers with 200+ employees would have had to enroll employees in the company health care plan automatically, while allowing them the option to decline coverage. Most employer plans […]
Employers with 50 or more employees in Connecticut must provide sexual harassment training to supervisors within six months of the individual assuming a supervisory position. While other employers are not mandated to provide such training, it is strongly encouraged to do so. Refresher training is encouraged, but not required. It is also beneficial to provide […]
