THE CONNECTICUT FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE ACT and CT PAID LEAVE APPEALS

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CT Family and Medical Leave (CTFMLA) and CT Paid Leave (CTPL) are two separate laws to help eligible workers who need to take leave from their job to care for a loved one or for their own medical reasons. The CT Family and Medical Leave Act provides eligible employees with job-protected leave, and the CT Paid Leave Act provides eligible workers with income replacement.

Depending on the situation, one or both of these laws may apply. That means that workers may file for both CT Family & Medical Leave and for CT Paid Leave—each law has its own application process and requirements.

The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) oversees the

CT Family & Medical Leave

law and complaints.

Did you receive Paid Family & Medical Leave income? You will receive a 1099-G form indicating that income in Box 1.
Have questions? Visit our 1099 page.

For CT Family and Medical Leave (i.e., to receive job protection for a leave),

The employee must notify their employer of their need for leave and their employer will provide them with the notices and forms to fill out.
The employee must complete the forms and return to their employer.

Employees who believe their employer is not following the CT Family and Medical Leave law may file a complaint here.

Overview:

Connecticut Paid Leave

The CT Paid Leave Authority takes applications for the CT Paid Leave program. CTPL provides eligible workers with income replacement. CTDOL handles the appeals process for workers who are denied paid leave.

CTDOL also handles appeals for the CT Paid Leave program. Workers who have been denied paid leave may file an appeal here

You can watch our Informational webinar and review our PowerPoint slideshow for more detailed information about the Connecticut Family & Medical Leave Act.

OVERVIEW: THE CT FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

Use of these forms is optional. Employers may create their own forms; they must contain the information required by the regulations.

An eligible employee may take CTFMLA leave for any of the following reasons:

Birth of a child and care for the child within the first year after birth;
The placement of a child for adoption or foster care and care for the child;
Care for a family member with a serious health condition;
Because of an employee’s own serious health condition;
To serve as an organ or bone marrow donor;
To address qualifying exigencies arising from a spouse, son, daughter or parent’s active-duty service in the armed forces; and
To care for a spouse, son, daughter, parent or next of kin with a serious injury or illness incurred on active duty in the armed forces.

Once an employee notifies his or her employer that an absence is for a CTFMLA qualifying reason, the employer must timely notify the employee of his or her eligibility for CTFMLA leave, provide the employee with a notice of rights and responsibilities and begin the approval process, which may include asking the employee to complete a medical certification form.

An employee is entitled to be reinstated to the employee’s same position or, if the same position is no longer available, to an equivalent position upon returning from CTFMLA leave. An employee is not entitled to reinstatement if the employee has exhausted his or her CTFMLA leave entitlement, the employment relationship would have ended regardless of the employee’s taking CTFMLA leave, or the employee obtains CT FMLA fraudulently.

Employers are prohibited from interfering with, or retaliating or discriminating against, an employee for requesting or taking CTFMLA leave.

Use of these forms is optional. Employers may create their own forms; they must contain the information required by the regulations.

Interpretive Guidance: Handling the Transition to the New Changes in the CTFMLA Law, Effective on January 1, 2022, When an Employee Has an Already Approved CTFMLA Leave

If you believe that your CT Family and Medical Leave rights have been violated, you can either file a complaint directly in Superior Court or with the Connecticut Department of Labor.

To file a CTFMLA complaint with the Connecticut Department of Labor, you should complete and submit the applicable complaint form.

Video Guide

Click here to view our YouTube video on How Employers Can Respond to a CTFMLA Complaint

Attention to filers and respondents of CTFMLA complaints

If you add or remove an attorney or representative, please notify us immediately at [email protected] or (860) 263-6400 to ensure timely receipt of all communications, which may have time-sensitive deadlines.

If you are unable to find the information you need on this page, you can contact the CTDOL Legal Division at [email protected].

The information set forth on, and linked through, this website is designed to provide a service to the employers and employees of this state. It does not constitute legal advice. Although the Department of Labor makes every effort to provide quality information, it makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein.

Employees who have been denied compensation under the CT Paid Leave Insurance Program, or any person who has been assessed a penalty by the CT Paid Leave Authority, may file an appeal with the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) Appeals Division. You may only file an appeal with CTDOL if you have already applied for CT Paid Leave benefits and received a final denial decision.

The Leave Complaint and Appeals portal linked below is the fastest way to file an appeal, check the status of your appeal, receive a decision from the Appeals Division, and get information about your appeal.

If you do not have internet access or need assistance filing an appeal, please contact the CTDOL Appeals Division at 38 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109. Telephone: (860) 263-6970 Fax: (860) 706-5767

Helpful Links

Video Guide

CT Paid Leave Law and Appeal Procedures

The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act

Chapter 557 – Employment Regulation (ct.gov)
Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance

Appeal Procedures

– Proposed Regulations in Progress

COVID Guidance for Employers

At this time, there are no federal or state laws that require an employer to pay an employee for an absence due to COVID. However, there are laws that may be helpful if you meet certain conditions.

Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act (CTFMLA): Most employers are required to provide unpaid time off under the CTFMLA if the employee or family member has a qualifying condition or circumstance. CTFMLA provides up to 12 weeks of leave for a “serious health condition.” There may be instances where COVID-19 qualifies as a serious health condition; however, the threshold requires more than just bed rest and isolation. More information about the CTFMLA can be found under the Overview: CT Family and Medical Leave and Connecticut Family & Medical Leave Act sections of this page.
Connecticut Paid Leave (CTPL): CTPL provides income replacement if the employee or family member has a qualifying condition or circumstance. CTPL provides up to 12 weeks of leave benefits for a “serious health condition.” There may be instances where COVID-19 may qualify as a serious health condition; however, the threshold requires more than just bed rest and isolation. More information about CTPL can be found on the CTPL Authority’s website here: Connecticut Paid Family & Medical Leave (ctpaidleave.org)
Connecticut Paid Sick Leave law: This law applies to certain employers with 50 or more employees in CT and requires those employers to provide up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. However, this law is limited to only 69 job classifications. More information about CT Paid Sick Leave and whether an employee or employer is covered can be found on the DOL website here: CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTE 31-57r – PAID SICK LEAVE (state.ct.us)

CTDOL Leave complaints are filed below after January 15th. Prior to January 15th, file your complaint here.

Note: If you have been denied unemployment benefits, file an appeal here. Do not use the Leave Complaint and Appeals portal as it could slow down your unemployment appeal.

Clicking on this link will take you to a secure portal hosted by ct.gov.

For your security:

Log out of the CTDOL leave and complaint and appeals portal, don’t just close the window.
Do not share your portal username or password with anyone.
Always login to the portal from this page or the log in page linked above.
Do not click on links you receive by email unless you are certain they are from CTDOL.
CTDOL will never text you a link.

If you think your account has been compromised, contact the CTDOL Appeals Division at 38 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109. Telephone: (860) 263-6970 Fax: (860) 706-5767.

Please note that the guidance above is not legal advice, it’s meant to provide information to employees and employers about the CT Family and Medical Leave law.

CTDOL makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. If a complaint is filed in court, that court may have a different interpretation.