CT Paid Sick Leave is changing!

On May 21, 2024, Governor Lamont signed new legislation that significantly expanded Connecticut’s Paid Sick Leave law.  Previously, Connecticut’s Paid Sick Leave law only applied to “service workers,” which was defined using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Classification system.  The new law will apply to all employees except for “seasonal workers” and certain unionized employees.  Seasonal workers are defined as employees who work 120 days or less in any year.

When the law takes effect on January 1, 2025, the law will apply to employers that employ 25 or more individuals in the state.  On January 1, 2026, the statute applies to employers who employ 11 or more individuals and on January 1, 2027, the statute will apply to employers who employ one or more employees.

Paid sick leave will accrue at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked.  Employees may begin to use paid sick leave time after 120 calendar days from their date of hire.  Employees will also be allowed to use paid sick leave in one hour increments and does not have to provide advance notice of their need to use paid sick leave.

The new law will substantially expand permitted reasons for taking sick leave; one of them being mental health days.  The new law also covers more family members than just spouses and children.  Notably, employers will not be able to require employees who use paid sick leave to find another employee to replace them and will not be able to require documentation proving the sick leave is being taken for a permitted purpose.

For more information and to best prepare your business for the upcoming changes, please contact one of our employment attorneys today!