Connecticut expands paid sick leave to cover more workers, family members

As of January 1, 2025, Connecticut’s Paid Sick Leave Law has expanded significantly to cover many more employers and to allow covered employees to take leave for additional reasons. Connecticut employers need to ensure they are complying with the law. While many employers likely already have policies that comply with the law, the new law may require changes for some, particularly employers that offer no or limited paid time off (PTO).

Connecticut’s Paid Sick Leave Law

For over a decade, Connecticut has had a Paid Sick Leave Law that requires employers to give service workers (such as certain food service workers and healthcare workers) paid sick leave. The law requires they be given up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year.

Connecticut recently expanded its paid sick leave law in several ways.

More types of workers covered

First, the law now applies to virtually all types of employees, not just service workers. There are narrow exemptions for seasonal workers (workers who work less than 120 days in a year) and certain unionized construction workers.

As of January 1, 2025, employers with 25 or more employees are covered. On January 1, 2026, employers with 11 or more employees will be covered. And as of January 1, 2027, all employers will be covered.

More family members covered

Second, Connecticut has expanded which family members a covered employee may take sick time to care for.