Free Connecticut Labor and Employment FAQs | Free Connecticut Labor and Employment Legal Documents

Am I Entitled To Lunch And Rest Breaks?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

There is no state law requiring a break be provided. The law does state that, with exceptions, an employee shall not be required to work for seven and a half or more consecutive hours without at least a thirtyminute meal period. Employers are exempt from the requirement if

requiring compliance would be adverse to public safety,
the duties of the position may only be performed by one employee,
the employer employs less than 5 employees on a shift at a single place of business (only applies to that shift),
the continuous nature of an employer's operation requires employees be available to respond to urgent conditions and employees are compensated for break and meal periods.

Can An Employer File Their Quarterly Unemployment Compensation Returns Online?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Registered employers with less than 250 people on their payroll are now able to file their returns online. The new Internet tax filing system will save employers a good deal of time because they'll no longer have to keep entering all of the required information. Information from the previous quarterly report will automatically be listed on the Internet system and will reappear on each subsequent quarterly tax return. Employers need only enter their gross quarterly wages for those employees and include any new employees who joined their workforce since the time of the last filing. The computerized system automatically totals the wages listed for the quarter, and once the taxable wages are determined by the employer, the system will compute the tax total. The new Internet address to file the quarterly returns is .The site will be available for a two month period each quarter:

October and November the system will be available to file the 3rd Quarter
January and February the system will be available to file the 4th Quarter
April and May the system will be available to file the 1st Quarter
July and August the system will be available to file the 2nd Quarter

You will need to know your Employer Registration Number and Password. Both are printed on either the UC2/5A Form or the UC2R/5R Form.

Can I Appeal A Denial Of Unemployment Benefits?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

You have the right to file an appeal if you do not agree with the denial of benefits. Likewise, an employer may appeal an award of benefits.

You have 21 calendar days from the date of the predetermination hearing decision to file an appeal with the Appeals Division. To file your appeal, you can use the appeal form on the Internet at , obtain a form at any Job Center or write a letter containing the basis for your appeal. You may file in person at any Job Center or at any Appeals Division office, or by fax or Internet.

A Notice of Hearing will be mailed to you, any employers involved, and the Unemployment Compensation Department indicating the time, date, place, and the issues to be covered. Attached to the Notice of Hearing may be relevant documents, such as the employer's fact finding statement or appeal, if these documents were not previously provided to you. These documents will help you to prepare for the hearing. Start preparing for your case as soon as you become aware that an appeal has been filed.

Can I Collect Benefits If I Quit My Job?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

If you voluntarily left your job without good cause, attributable to your employer, you are generally not eligible for benefits. It is your burden to prove that there was good cause for leaving. When applying for benefits, after quitting a job, you will be scheduled to attend a predetermination hearing to establish whether you had good cause for leaving. Your employer will be notified of this hearing and will be invited to attend or to send in a written statement.

For good cause to be attributable to the employer, it must relate to the wages, hours, or working conditions of the job. Regardless of the cause, in most cases, good cause attributable to the employer may only be found if you took reasonable steps to inform your employer of your dissatisfaction and sought to remedy the problem before you left.

Can I Obtain My Personnel File From My Employer?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Yes. State law gives you the right to review and copy your entire personnel file for at least one year after your separation. To obtain access to the file, you should deliver a written request to your employer.

Can I Still Receive Benefits If I Am Working Part Time?

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:51:22 GMT

If you are working parttime, your Weekly Benefit Rate will be reduced by an amount equal to two thirds (2/3) of your gross wages for that week, rounded to the nearest dollar. To be eligible for this payment the law provides that: you must be employed less than fulltime; the number of hours you are working during the week is less than the number of hours customarily considered to be fulltime for that job and/or employer; you must be available and looking for fulltime work; You did not refuse additional hours.

Can You Explain The Connecticut New Hire Program?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Employers conducting business in Connecticut are required to report all new hires to the Department of Labor within 20 days of the date of hire. This information will be used to assist the Department of Social Services in the enforcement of child support obligations. The Department of Labor may also use this information in a manner consistent with its governmental powers and duties.

Does Paying An Employee By Salary Exempt Them From Overtime?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

No, paying an employee a salary does not make exempt them from overtime. The employee must meet the definition of an executive, administrative, or professional employee as defined by the Labor Commissioner to be considered exempt. The employee must meet both a duties test and salary test.

How Do I Determine Whether Or Not I Am Liable For Unemployment Taxes?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

An employer is liable for unemployment taxes if that employer either,

had in employment at least one individual for some portion of a day in each of twenty different weeks, not necessarily consecutive, in either the current or preceding calendar year.

How Do I File A Claim For Benefits?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

You may file a claim for benefits by telephone by calling the TeleBenefits Line. Once you have established a claim, you will file weekly claims by telephone. This automated system provides eligibility information, will allow weekly filing of benefits and provide information on the disposition of weekly continued claims, once a new claim has been established.

How Do I Know If I Am Eligible To Receive Unemployment Benefits?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

To be eligible for benefits, you must meet the following criteria:Be fully or partially unemployed; Be unemployed through no fault of your own [the law imposes disqualifications for certain types of separations from employment];

Be physically and mentally able to work full time;
Be available for fulltime work;
Be registered with the Connecticut Works Center;
Be actively seeking work by making reasonable efforts to find employment each week;
Participate in selected reemployment services if you are identified as a dislocated worker by the profiling system;
File your weekly claims.

How Much Compensation Can I Receive?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Benefits are calculated using the individual's earnings during a 12month period called the base period. The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the calendar quarter in which you initiated the claim. They then take the average of the total wages paid during the two highest quarters in the base period, divide by 26 and round down to the next lowest dollar, up to a maximum of $406. This amount is called the Weekly Benefit Rate. Normally, the maximum number of weeks you can receive benefits is 26.

How Much Must An Employer Pay In Unemployment Taxes?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

The taxes an employer must pay are calculated by multiplying your quarterly taxable wages by your tax rate. For 2002, new employers, pay at the rate of 2.1% of the first $15,000 of each employees wages. For established employers, the rate can range from 1.8% to 6.7%. To determine your tax rate, you can call the Telephone Tax System at (860) 5661018 or (203) 2484270.

If I Am Fired From My Job, How Soon Must My Employer Pay Me?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

If you are terminated from your job, your employer must pay you all earnings owed by the next business day. If you are laid off or quit your job, your employer must pay you by the next regular payday.

Is There A Law Regarding Required Paydays?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

State law requires a weekly payday within 8 days of the end of the pay period; however, an employer may write the Regulation of Wages Division for a waiver of this, with conditions.

Is There Any Financial Assistance For Apprenticeship Programs?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

A corporate tax credit is available in the manufacturing trade areas. In order to be eligible for the tax credit you must be a qualified registered apprenticeship program sponsor and the business must be classified as a manufacturing establishment according to the Standard Industrial Classification Manual.

Total Tax Credit Per Apprentice is the lesser of the Following:

Credit of $4.00 per hour multiplied by the total number of hours worked during the Company's Tax year by apprentices in: first half of a two or three year term of apprenticeship or first three quarters of a four year term of apprenticeship OR
Fifty percent (50%) of actual wages paid to apprentice in such Tax year OR
Four Thousand Eight Hundred dollars ($4,800.00)

For additional information about the apprenticeship tax credit, please contact the Connecticut Department of Labor, 200 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield, CT 06109, (860) 2636585.

Must An Employer Provide Sick Pay, Vacation Pay Or Holiday Pay?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

An employer is not required by law to pay for sick time, vacation time or holidays.

Must I Hire An Attorney To Represent Me At The Hearing?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

You have the right to be represented by an attorney, but you do not have to hire one as long as you are diligent in gathering the necessary evidence. The Claimant's Guide to the Appeals Process will provide assistance in preparing you for the hearing.

If you plan to get representation, do so as soon as possible, so that your representative will have time to prepare. Notify the Appeals Division of the name and address of your representative so that he or she will be informed of hearings or proceedings. You must decide before the hearing whether you need representation. Start immediately to gather any papers that relate to the issue such as correspondence from your employer, union contracts, warning notices or medical statements. Also, be certain that any witnesses who have direct knowledge of the events in question are available to attend the hearing.

The hearing before the Referee is the only chance you will have to tell your story. Be prepared to tell the Referee everything you think is important and to present all witnesses and evidence at the hearing. You will not be allowed another hearing to present evidence that you failed to offer the first time unless you had good cause for your failure.

Please Explain The Connecticut Apprenticeship Program.

Fri, 02 May 2008 15:38:17 GMT

Apprenticeship programs in the State of Connecticut are administered by the Department of Labor through Regional Apprenticeship Representatives located throughout the state. Skilled consultants provide technical assistance, monitoring, and consulting services to qualified employers willing to take on the responsibilities and obligations of program sponsorship. Apprenticeship is a program of learning while earning. The apprentice employee has voluntarily entered into a mutual agreement with an employer regarding training. Apprenticeship can be seen as part of the conditions of work. Apprenticeship programs are available in occupations clearly identified and commonly recognized as separate and distinct trades requiring broad skills applicable throughout the industry. The Apprenticeship Index gives more detailed information on apprenticeable trades. For additional information, contact the Regional Apprenticeship Representatives in your area.

Please Explain The Customized Job Training (Cjt) Program.

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

The CJT Program is designed to stimulate the creation and retention of jobs in the state by providing financial assistance for training that the company could not have provided through its own resources. Financial assistance and nonfinancial assistance are provided to new, relocating, and expanding businesses that are training their workers. CJT funds shortterm training, usually less than one year in length for programs that may include onthejob training, classroom training, and support activities. Employers that are targeted for funding requests include small to midsize (less than 500 employees) manufacturers who are remaining competitive by introducing new manufacturing processes, technologies, and/or quality systems are targeted. Priority is given to businesses that use highperformance work organization practices.For additional information, contact:

Connecticut Department of Labor
Customized Job Training
200 Folly Brook Blvd.
Wethersfield, CT 061091114
Telephone: (860) 2636035
Fax: (860) 2636529

Should I Continue To File Claims For Benefits While Awaiting A Decision From The Appeals Division?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Yes, as long as you continue to meet the criteria for eligibility. If a decision is made in your favor, you will receive compensation only for those weeks for which you have filed claims.

What Are The Criteria To Be Considered An Independent Contractor?

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:05:11 GMT

The Unemployment Compensation Law defines employment as any service performed under any expressed or implied contract of hire creating the employer and employee relationship. To be considered an independent contractor, an individual must meet all three of the following tests:

He must be free from control and direction in connection with the performance of the service, both under his contract of hire and in fact; and his service is performed either: outside the usual course of business of the employer or outside of all the employer's places of business; and the individual must be customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business of the same nature as the service performed.

What Can I Do If My Employer Owes Me Wages?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

If you have a wage complaint, you can file a Statement of Claim for Wages Form .

What Happens When I Complete My Apprenticeship?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

If it is in an occupationallicensed craft, you must successfully pass the appropriate license examination. You would then obtain your certificate of completion. In nonlicensed occupations, the certificate is granted upon completion of onthejob training and related instructions.

What If My Former Employer Appeals And The Decision Is Made In Its Favor?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

If you do not appeal that decision within 21 calendar days, it will become final and you will be asked to pay back the benefits you received. The law provides several options for repayment: a repayment schedule; offset from present or future benefits; or waiver of the overpayment. After the Referee's decision becomes final, the Administrator will advise you of the amount of the overpayment and the various methods of repayment. If the overpayment is not waived and recoupment from future benefits is not sufficient to repay the overpayment, the Administrator will insist upon a repayment schedule. If you fail to comply with the repayment schedule, the Administrator may attach your wages when you go back to work.

What Methods Are Available For Reporting New Hires?

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:51:22 GMT

You can report new hires to the Department of Labor as follows:

Fax a copy of the CTW4 (Employees Withholding or Exemption Certificate) to: Fax # 18008161108
Mail a copy of the CTW4 with all employer information clearly completed to:
Connecticut Department of Labor
Office of Research, Attn: CTW4
200 Folly Brook Boulevard
Wethersfield, CT 06109
For alternate reporting options, including magnetic reporting, please call (860) 2636310.

What is the minimum wage in Connecticut?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

The minimum wage for adults working in the State of Connecticut is currently $8.00 per hour (as of January 1, 2002). Minors may be paid 85% of the minimum wage for the first 200 hours of employment. The minimum wage for waiters and waitresses will be $6.70 per hour less 29.3% of the minimum wage ($1.96 for tips) or $4.74 per hour. All state and federal taxes are required to be paid on $6.70, and then take the tip deduction.Please note that Connecticut's minimum wage will increase to $6.90 per hour as of January 1, 2003.

When Must An Employer Pay Overtime?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

According to law, overtime at one and onehalf times the employee's regular rate of pay is due after 40 hours of actual work in the workweek.

When Should I Apply For Unemployment Benefits?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

You should file for benefits immediately after you are separated from employment. Your claim is effective the Sunday of the week in which you first file for benefits. Ordinarily, you do not get paid for the weeks prior to the week you filed your initial claim.

When Will I Be Informed Of The Appeals Division Decision?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

The written decision will be mailed to you as soon as possible. It will also explain your right to appeal if you are not satisfied with the decision.

If you have new or additional information, you can write to the Referee and ask to have the case reopened. If you disagree with the Referee's decision, you can appeal to the Employment Security Board of Review. You have 21 calendar days from the Referee's decision to file an appeal to the Board of Review. The Board of Review will acknowledge your appeal and provide an opportunity for you to submit a written statement in support of your case. The Board will then review all the material in the case file and listen to the tape recording of the hearing before the Referee. A decision will be issued which will affirm, reverse, or modify the Referee's decision. If you are not satisfied with the Board's decision, you have 30 calendar days to file a motion to reopen with the Board or a further appeal to the Superior Court. The Board's decision explains how to do this.

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