Connecticut Worker Rights
Connecticut has a high minimum wage, a statewide paid leave insurance program, and expanding paid sick leave, along with OSHA training rules for public projects.
- Connecticut
Pay
- Minimum wage: one of the highest in the country, adjusted every January.
- Overtime: 1.5x over 40 hours a week.
- Prevailing wage: required on many state and municipal construction projects.
- OSHA 10: required for workers on public building projects above a set dollar amount. See State Training Requirements.
Breaks and leave
- Breaks: a 30-minute meal period for shifts of 7.5 hours or more.
- Paid sick leave: being phased in to cover nearly all employers by 2027.
- CT Paid Leave: a state insurance program that pays partial wages for family and medical leave.
Unions and right-to-work
Connecticut is not a right-to-work state, so a union contract can require covered workers to pay at least a fee for representation. Private-sector workers have the right to organize under federal law. See Your Right to Organize.
Where to file
- Unpaid wages and overtime: Connecticut Department of Labor, Wage and Workplace Standards Division.
- Discrimination and harassment: Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), or the U.S. EEOC.
- Safety: Federal OSHA covers private employers. CONN-OSHA covers state and local government workers.
- Work injuries: report the injury to your employer right away, in writing, and follow up with Connecticut’s workers’ compensation agency. See Workers’ Compensation.
Check current rules: this is a summary. Wage rates and labor laws change often, usually on January 1 or July 1, and cities and counties can add their own rules. Confirm details with the Connecticut Department of Labor before acting. Federal protections apply too. See Where to Get Help.
Standards & references
Last updated: