Approaching midyear, business leaders are bullish on growth and the opportunities ahead. At the same time, the macro forces of GenAI, climate change, a multipolar geopolitical landscape and the erosion of trust and healthy...more
The Connecticut Appellate Court recently ruled that a septuagenarian teacher’s claims that she was forced to resign because of age discrimination were untimely. The ruling distinguishes Connecticut law from a 2016 Supreme...more
In its 2021 Session, the Connecticut General Assembly amended the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act (CFEPA), which prohibits discriminatory practices, and other related laws on sexual harassment training and...more
The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (“CHRO”) recently extended the deadline for employers to provide sexual harassment training for their employees, from October 1, 2020, to January 1, 2021, due to...more
Recognizing employers have challenges in ensuring employees complete Connecticut’s new mandatory sexual harassment training requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and...more
As we previously reported, Connecticut has enacted the Time’s Up Act (the “Act”), which expanded existing sexual harassment training and notice requirements on employers. Under the new law, employers with three or more...more
Last month the U.S. Supreme Court simultaneously resolved a long-running dispute about procedure under Title VII and sent a message to employers that it is important to pay attention and act promptly when faced with a Title...more
On June 18, 2019, Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Connecticut’s new sexual harassment prevention legislation, known as the Time’s Up Act. The law significantly broadens sexual harassment training requirements, extending...more
Until about 25 years ago, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities claimed the power to award both general damages for emotional distress and reasonable attorneys’ fees to complainants who prevailed in a...more
The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities has issued guidance on nondiscrimination in the hiring and employment of Connecticut veterans (the “Guidance”). Although discrimination against veterans already was...more
As my colleague Rachel Ginsburg aptly foretold, Connecticut’s Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities [“CHRO”] has indicated an interest in involving itself with discrimination claims concerning the schools. A recent...more
The Connecticut Supreme Court rang in the new year with a ruling long awaited by employers, settling the lingering question as to whether punitive damages are recoverable for claims under the Connecticut Fair Employment...more
On Monday December 8, 2014, the Connecticut Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in the case of Mireille Derosiers v. Diageo North America, Inc. et al. holding that the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act (the...more
I recently attended a meeting where Charles Krich, the Principal Attorney for the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (“CHRO”), spoke about the future of the agency. Attorney Krich stated that the agency...more
SC18877 Concurrence - Sarrazin v. Coastal, Inc. - Foreman for a plumbing contractor sued the company claiming he was entitled to overtime for traveling to job sites all over the state as he had to do so in a company...more
An employee’s speech in the workplace may be disruptive to the day-to-day running of your company or worse, downright offensive and “bad for business.” This blog post will discuss when an employer is free to discipline an...more
With every new law that gets passed, it’s easy to overlook the existing requirements that employers must follow. After all, if employers are just tracking the new laws down without first nailing down compliance with...more
With all the talk about Edward Snowden, the notion of whistleblowers is back front and center in the public eye. (Put aside for the moment that Snowden is not likely a “whistleblower” in the legal sense.)...more
The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities is going through some changes now in leadership....more
Back in 1994 (in a case Levy v. Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities, for the lawyers out there) the Appellate Court in Connecticut made a seemingly innocuous pronouncement: “We look to federal employment discrimination...more
Two quick updates to items I’ve covered before. Yesterday, the state Senate approved of an increase to minimum wage by 75 cents, over two years. The bill would raise the minimum wage to $8.70 on January 1, 2014 and...more
Whenever someone tells you that a proposed bill “clarifies” something or “simplifies” existing law, you should view such talk with a dose of healthy skepticism....more
A new lawsuit filed last Thursday in Connecticut state court by an employer alleges that the employer’s due process rights are being violated by “inherently conflicted and irreparably unfair proceedings” at the Commission on...more