Connecticut Becomes First to Require Paid Sick Time

The law governs service-industry companies with 50 or more employees.

July 07, 2011

HARTFORD, Conn. - This week, Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy signed An Act Mandating Employers Provide Paid Sick Leave to Employees that would make companies give workers paid sick leave. Connecticut becomes the first state to require service-industry businesses with 50 or more employees to give workers an hour of sick time for each 40 hours on the job, The Washington Post reports.

Supporters say the new law covers between 200,000 and 300,000 employees, while opponents fear it will drive businesses away from Connecticut. "Where does it stop?" said Joe Brennan, who lobbies for the Connecticut Business & Industry Association. "Mandate vacation time? Mandate how many times people can get a coffee break during the day?"

Supporters had been trying for four years to get the proposal passed. Former Gov. Jodi Rell threatened veto during her tenure. In late May, the state Senate approved the measure by a one-vote margin, while the U.S. House of Representatives passed the measure by 11 votes in early June.

While Malloy had indicated his support of the bill, he signed without fanfare on Friday, not announcing he had done so until Tuesday. "I thought we were going to have a signing ceremony," said Sen. Edith Prague, who co-chairs the Labor and Public Employees Committee and a vocal supporter of the bill. "But he signed it and that??s the main thing."

The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2012.

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