Connecticut Employee Rights

Quick Guide on Connecticut Employee Rights

Connecticut Employee Rights

Some of the greatest resources for overviews or complete coverage on Connecticut employee rights involving various employee rights in minimum wage, fair pay and equal pay, the hiring process, safety standards, and more are the following resources:

Chapter 557 and Chapter 558 of the Connecticut General Statutes:

http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/Chap557.htm

http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/Chap558.htm

The following website under the Connecticut Department of Labor:

http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/wgwkstnd/forms/wca1intr.htm

http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/wgwkstnd/faqs-employees.htm

Laws that Protect Connecticut Employee Rights in the Hiring Process

There are multiple federal laws and state laws that protect a prospective and current employee during the hiring process or promotion process, and most of these laws address credit histories, drug tests, and discrimination.

Most Connecticut employee rights within the hiring process that are covered by state law are listed within Chapter 557. For example Section 31-51g states that no employer can use a polygraph during the hiring process unless they are a government institution. Additionally, sections 31-51(t) through 31-51(bb) provide provisions for drug testing during the hiring process and during employment.

There are also several federal laws that protect an applicant against discrimination during the hiring process:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which protects against race, color, religion, sex, or national origin)

• Age Discrimination Act of 1963 (which protects workers who are 40 years or older)

• Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (which protects disabled persons in federal, state, and local sectors)

• Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (which prohibits discrimination based on genetic information about the employee)

Fair Pay and Equal Pay

There are also Connecticut employee rights that cover various employee rights in minimum wage and fair pay and equal pay. Some of these rights are listed below:

The Fair Pay and Equal Pay Acts

These acts prohibit sex-based discrimination within the same job. The Fair Pay and Equal Pay Acts also prohibit an employer from paying employees of equal experience and skill different wages based on sex or any categories under discrimination laws. CT sections under Chapter 558 that address sex-based discrimination on wages include Sections 31-75 through 31-76.

Various Employee Rights with Minimum Wage

According to state law, the current minimum wage in Connecticut is $8.25 per hour. Various employee rights in minimum wage laws allow the employee to negotiate their wage, but some employees are exempt from full minimum wage. Refer to the article on this website titled, “Quick Guide to Minimum Wage in Connecticut” for more information on various employee rights in minimum wage.

If you believe your Connecticut employee rights have been violated, including various employee rights in minimum wage, fair pay and equal pay, the hiring process, or any other aspect of the workplace, you should never be afraid to receive proper compensation from the employer.