Employers need to know what the Connecticut Legislature is up to with respect to labor and employment laws. To that end – we offer this update on the bills currently working their way through the legislative chambers. Any bill that starts with the letters “HB” is a house bill. Those starting with the letters “SB” are senate bills. Bear in mind that none of these bills have been enacted and may not ever become law or may go through significant revision before becoming enacted. We will, of course, provide further updates as the legislative process continues to unfold.
HB05591 AN ACT CONCERNING PAY EQUITY IN THE WORKFORCE.
- What’s in the legislation: This bill contains the following language: (a) No employer shall discriminate in the amount of compensation paid to any employee on the basis of sex. Any difference in pay based on sex shall be deemed a discrimination within the meaning of this section. (b) If an employee can demonstrate that his or her employer discriminates on the basis of sex by paying wages to employees at the employer’s business at a rate less than the rate at which the employer pays wages to employees of the opposite sex at such business for equal work on a job, the performance of which requires equal skill, effort and responsibility, and which are performed under [similar] comparable working conditions, such employer must demonstrate that such differential in pay is made pursuant to (1) a seniority system; (2) a merit system; (3) a system which measures earnings by quantity or quality of production; or (4) a differential system based upon a bona fide factor other than sex, such as education, training or experience.
- Status: Currently on the Senate Floor, Cal. # 346. Favorably passed the House by a vote of 139 to 9. Likelihood of passage high.
HB06212 AN ACT CONCERNING EARNED FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE.
- What’s in the legislation: Language to create a system to compensate individuals who are out on family and medical leave.
- Status: Currently on the House Floor, Cal. # 170. Due to fiscal cost associated with the bill it is not expected to advance as drafted. Discussions continue relating to possible language changes.
SB00001 AN ACT CONCERNING EARNED FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE.
- What’s in the legislation: Language to create a system to compensate individuals who are out on family and medical leave.
- Status: Currently on Senate Floor, Calendar Number 153. Likelihood strong of advancement, but large fiscal note attached to the bill must be addressed.
HB06461 AN ACT CONCERNING UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.
- What’s in the legislation: To update and reform unemployment compensation and ensure that the Unemployment Trust Fund remains solvent in future years.
- Status: Currently on the House Floor, Cal. # 198. Being pushed by state business groups and has bipartisan support. Organized labor opposes. Likelihood of advancement uncertain.
SB00611 AN ACT CONCERNING THE CHARGING OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS.
- What’s in the legislation: Language calling for the general statutes to be amended to provide that when an employee voluntarily terminates his or her employment with an employer, and the employee is subsequently terminated by a second employer under circumstances that permit the payment of unemployment compensation benefits, the payment of unemployment compensation benefits after the termination shall not be charged to the account of the first employer.
- Status: Currently on Senate Floor, Calendar Number 90. Advanced by the Labor Committee with a unanimous vote. Support from Republican Leadership. Advancement uncertain.
HB06666 AN ACT EXPANDING REMEDIES AND POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR UNREASONABLY CONTESTED OR DELAYED WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS.
- What’s in the legislation: To allow individuals seeking compensation for a workers’ compensation claim to bring an action against an employer, insurer or third-party administrator that has unreasonably contested liability or delayed payments or adjustments of such compensation.
- Status: Currently on the House Floor, Calendar Number 199. Advanced by both the Labor and Judiciary Committees with Republican opposition. Unclear as to the likelihood of advancement.
HB06668 AN ACT CONCERNING PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE.
- What’s in the legislation: Language calling for improvements in workplace protections for pregnant women.
- Status: Currently on the House Floor, Calendar Number 186. Advanced unanimously out of the Labor Committee. With no opposition testimony submitted on the bill, it is expected to proceed.
SB00747 AN ACT PROHIBITING “ON-CALL” SHIFT SCHEDULING FOR EMPLOYEES.
- What’s in the legislation: Language calling for the general statutes be amended to prohibit the employment practice of requiring an employee to call an employer prior to a scheduled shift to confirm that the employee is needed for the shift, and to require employers to give an employee at least twenty-four hours prior notice if the employee is not needed to work a scheduled shift.
- Status: Currently on Senate Floor, Calendar Number 162. Introduced by Sen. Kennedy, with strong support from organized labor. Due to large amount of opposition, likelihood of advancement as currently drafted is unlikely.
If you have labor or employment law questions we can answer – we hope you will call us. The attorneys at Kainen, Escalera & McHale do one thing and one thing only – we are an employer defense law firm – in fact, we are one of the largest employer defense law firms in the region. What’s more, each of our attorneys has over 20 years of experience in employment law and labor law matters and can provide your business with comprehensive legal counsel ranging from assistance with necessary preventive measures to trial advocacy.
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