Albert L. Barrueco
Although Connecticut’s regular legislative session ends May 5, 2010, Senate Bill No. 63, an Act mandating Connecticut employers to provide
paid sick leave to qualifying employees, is still alive and ready for consideration by the Senate. The bill, introduced by the General Assembly’s Labor Committee last February, cleared another legislative hurdle last week when it was approved by the Appropriations Committee without amendment. Despite heavy opposition by employers, the bill previously received a favorable report from the legislature’s Labor Committee last month.
Current law does not require employers in Connecticut to provide paid sick leave. This bill, however, would require all Connecticut employers with 50 or more eligible employees in the state to provide their employees with up to 5 days (40 hours) of paid sick leave each year. Certain eligibility and accrual thresholds would apply. Employees could use paid sick leave for themselves or their children. This leave could include treatment for illness (including treatment of mental illnesses or physical injuries), preventative medical care and reasons related to family violence or sexual assaults. Finally, the bill bans retaliation or discrimination against employees who use this paid leave and charges the state Department of Labor with enforcement of the Act.
Employers can track and find more information about this bill on the General Assembly’s website: http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=63&which_year=2010