CT Paid Leave FAQ
Your CT Paid Leave Questions Asked and Answered
At the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority, our mission is to provide Connecticut’s workforce a clear path to accessible paid family and medical leave benefits when they need them most. As the CT Paid Leave program rolls out, we understand you have questions — not only about how the program will work, but also about the importance of paid leave, and the impact the program will have on our communities. I hope to address some of the more common questions we hear from you, and I encourage you to keep asking questions, and let us know how we can help make CT Paid Leave work for you and your community.
The Process:
Want to know more about CT Paid Leave?
Do you have questions about the program and how it may impact you, your business, or your family? Click here to check out these Frequently Asked Questions.
How do I register?
Registration is now open, visit CTPaidLeave.org to register your business.
Sole proprietors and those who are self-employed are eligible to opt in to the program through the registration process.
In order to register your business, please make sure you have established a state identity for your business. Once your business has a state identity, you will be able to sign in and begin the registration process.
Please note the registration process may differ depending on your type of business, and whether a company administrator or a third-party administrator handles your payroll. The registration for each business type is laid out in detail on the CT Paid Leave registration page. There are also helpful video tutorials to help guide you through the process.
Key Program Dates:
- November 2020: Registration began for Connecticut businesses.
- January 1, 2021: Employee payroll deductions of one-half of one percent (0.5%) begin.
- January 1, 2022: Covered employees become eligible for paid leave benefits.
Note: Payroll contributions are due quarterly. The first payment is due no later than April 30, 2021.
How do I file for an exemption?
While the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA) applies to all employers with one or more employees, employers may apply for an exemption if they intend to offer the same benefits to all employees through a private plan. Although employers may apply for an exemption, individual employees are not permitted to opt-out.
CEO Andrea Barton Reeves Answers Your Top Five CT Paid Leave Questions
Why is it important to launch the CT Paid Leave program now?
If our state has learned anything in these unprecedented times, it’s that Connecticut’s workforce must have a strong safety net of services to rely on, now and in the future. Planning ahead is vital as we have seen firsthand the need to have resources available — and it’s hard to predict when we may need to use them. The CT Paid Leave program offers a means to invest now for future peace of mind.
As challenging as our economic climate is for employers and workers, we know this program is vital to our state's long-term economic stability and growth. We all want a healthier workforce, and the need for paid leave has never been greater than it is right now.
What are your goals for CT Paid Leave as it rolls out? How do you plan to measure those goals?
In order for this program to be successful, we need to ensure that employers and workers are educated and informed about benefits, resources and options. Specifically, the responsibilities of CT Paid Leave are: outreach and engagement; development of the policies and procedures needed to run the program; establishing the trust fund contribution rate and receiving contributions; approving and auditing private plans; and administering claims for paid leave benefits. We will measure our progress towards these objectives through employer/employee awareness, successful registration and claims processes, program participation and community feedback.
What should employers be doing right now to prepare?
If you are a business owner with one or more employees who work in Connecticut or third-party administrator, it is important to register your business with the CT Paid Leave Authority as soon as possible, as payroll deductions will begin on January 1. Keep in mind that during COVID, even if your employees are working from home, if they would normally come to work in Connecticut, no matter where they live, they will be subject to the payroll deduction and they can apply for benefits in 2022. If you use a payroll provider, you will need to work with them to ensure you are set up to make these contributions, which are due quarterly. It is also important for you to take steps to keep your workforce informed about the program; you can find materials to communicate with them about the program here.
How can my business offer a private plan that complies with the new Paid Leave law?
While the CT Paid Leave program applies to all employers with one or more employees, employers may apply for an exemption if they intend to offer the same benefits through a private plan. In order to qualify, the private plan must offer all employees all of the same rights, protections, and benefits as the CT Paid Leave program. You can learn more about private plans here.
To apply for a private plan, employers must first register with the CT Paid Leave Authority. During registration, you will be given the opportunity to declare your intent to offer a private plan, and will be prompted to begin the application process.
In order to be approved, a private plan must:
- Offer at least the same number of weeks of benefits and at least the same level of wage replacement for each week of benefits.
- Deduct the same amount from employees’ paychecks as the state plan.
- Cover all employees, current and future, through the duration of their employment.
- Be approved by a majority of your employees (50%+1) through a private vote.
- Include no additional requirements or conditions.
Remain compliant with any additional requirements established by the CT Paid Leave Authority.
What safeguards are in place to keep the program solvent, to prevent abuse and fraud, and to ensure Connecticut workers have access to paid leave benefits?
The CT Paid Leave Authority has established protocols to ensure compliance and to protect against fraud or abuse of the program. The funds will be held in a trust fund managed by the Office of the State Treasurer, who will ensure the program's solvency. All benefit claims will be reviewed closely to ensure the program is accessible to those who need it, and will work with employers to verify eligibility. Additionally, the CT Paid Leave Authority will work with the Department of Labor to establish program controls to ensure compliance and enforcement.
Download the New CT Paid Leave Employer Toolkit
The Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Authority (CT Paid Leave) manages all aspects of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Program. Worker payroll deductions began January 1, 2021, and covered workers may begin receiving Connecticut Paid Leave program benefits for qualifying life events beginning January 1, 2022.
Updated for 2021, the refreshed CT Paid Leave employer toolkit is now available for download from the CT Paid leave website. This resource provides vital information on the leave request process, how employees can access paid leave benefits, a CT Paid Leave program overview, as well as additional helpful assets such as a workplace poster, infographics, timelines and video content.
CT Paid Leave (Webinar Series)
FOR EMPLOYERS - We want to talk to you about CT Paid Leave and CT FMLA laws beginning January 1, 2022. Most businesses with one or more employees will be impacted by paid leave, which ensures that workers will not have to choose between a paycheck and their ability to care for themselves or their loved ones.Join us for an overview of the differences between the CT Paid Leave Act and CT FMLA. In this webinar we will review your responsibilities as the employer, job-protected leave, income replacement, and the resources available to help you successfully navigate the two worlds of CT Paid Leave and CTFMLA in your workplace.
Applications for paid leave benefits accepted starting December 1, 2021.
Access Webinar Dates/Registration
List of webinar dates and registration can be found on CT Paid Leave.
Can Connecticut Residents Receive Paid Sick Leave For COVID-19?
If you’ve been sick with COVID-19 and missed work you may be able to get paid for some of those days. But the guidance is tricky and not every employer offers paid time off for certain employees.
"You can use paid family and medical leave if you have a serious health condition of your own or if you are a caregiver for someone who has a serious health condition," said Andrea Barton Reeves, head of the new Connecticut Paid Leave Authority.
Barton Reeves says it’s possible if you were hospitalized with COVID that you could receive paid sick leave.
Barton Reeves says they’ve fielded hundreds of calls on the topic. Click the button below to read the full article on the topic on NBC CT.
