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Connecticut Labor Laws 2025

Connecticut has comprehensive labor protections including a minimum wage of $16.35/hour, mandatory meal breaks for longer shifts, and paid sick leave requirements for service workers at larger employers.

Important: Connecticut requires 30-minute meal breaks for shifts of 7.5+ hours, and was one of the first states to mandate paid sick leave (for service workers at employers with 50+ employees).

Minimum Wage

Connecticut has a state minimum wage that exceeds federal law, with scheduled increases to reach $16.94 by 2026.

Key Requirements

  • State minimum wage: $16.35 per hour (through 2025)
  • Tipped employees (bartenders): $8.23/hour minimum (can use tip credit)
  • Tipped employees (other): $6.38/hour minimum for wait staff (can use tip credit)
  • Annual increases tied to Employment Cost Index
  • Applies to all employers with one or more employees

Additional Resources

Overtime

Connecticut follows federal overtime requirements with some additional provisions for specific industries.

Key Requirements

  • Overtime pay: 1.5x regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek
  • No daily overtime requirement (calculated weekly)
  • Standard exemptions apply (executive, administrative, professional)
  • Specific rules for certain industries like restaurants and hotels
  • Salary threshold for exemptions follows federal FLSA standards

Additional Resources

Meal Breaks

Connecticut requires meal breaks for employees working shifts of a certain length.

Key Requirements

  • Meal break: 30-minute unpaid meal period for shifts of 7.5+ consecutive hours
  • Meal break must be provided after first 2 hours and before last 2 hours of shift
  • Employees must be completely relieved of duties during meal break
  • No state requirement for rest breaks
  • Employers may voluntarily provide rest breaks (if under 20 minutes, must be paid)

Additional Resources

Paid Sick Leave

Connecticut requires paid sick leave for certain employers, making it one of the first states with such a mandate.

Key Requirements

  • Applies to service workers at employers with 50+ employees
  • Accrual: 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked
  • Maximum accrual: 40 hours per year
  • Can be used for employee or family member illness, preventive care
  • Unused sick leave carries over to next year (employer may cap at 40 hours)

Additional Resources

Payment of Wages

Connecticut has specific requirements for wage payment frequency and timing.

Key Requirements

  • Most employees must be paid weekly or bi-weekly
  • Payment must be made within 8 days after end of pay period
  • Executive, administrative, and professional employees may be paid less frequently
  • Final wages: Must be paid by next business day after termination
  • Wage deductions limited without employee written authorization

Additional Resources

Minors in the Workplace

Connecticut has comprehensive restrictions on youth employment.

Key Requirements

  • Working papers (employment certificates) required for minors under 18
  • Ages 14-15: Limited to 3 hours per school day, 18 hours per week during school
  • Ages 14-15: 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week when school not in session
  • Ages 16-17: More flexibility but still restrictions on hazardous work
  • Restrictions on hours minors can work (generally not before 6am or after 10pm on school nights)

Additional Resources

Paid Sick Leave Details

Connecticut was one of the first states to mandate paid sick leave, though it has specific limitations:

Who's Covered?

  • Applies to "service workers" - employees in specific service industry occupations
  • Employers must have 50 or more employees in Connecticut
  • Exempt employees, temporary employees, and certain others are not covered
  • Manufacturing sector employees are generally not covered

Meal Break Timing Requirements

Connecticut's meal break law has specific timing requirements:

  • Required for shifts of 7.5 consecutive hours or more
  • Must be provided after the first 2 hours of work
  • Must be provided before the last 2 hours of work
  • 30-minute minimum duration

Tipped Employee Minimum Wages

Connecticut has different minimum cash wages for different types of tipped employees:

Bartenders

Higher minimum cash wage

$8.23/hour

Wait Staff & Other

Standard tipped employee minimum

$6.38/hour

Tips must bring total compensation to at least $16.35/hour.

Stay Compliant with Connecticut Labor Laws

Rightwork automatically enforces Connecticut's meal break timing requirements, tracks paid sick leave for eligible employees, and ensures proper wage calculations.

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