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CBIA members: Click here to sign up for our free HR and/or our Safety & Heath electronic newsletters. |
Find the Connecticut-specific information you need to comply with employment laws and regulations, and effectively manage your company's most valuable asset — its people! Web-only features
New…state minimum wage poster
The state minimum wage will increase to $8.00 on 1/1/09 and to $8.25 on 1/1/10. The revised poster reflecting these changes is now available. To order, contact Lise Cliché at clichel@cbia.com or 860-244-1977.
UI weekly benefit increasesThe state Department of Labor has announced that the maximum unemployment insurance benefit will increase to $519 per week from the current $501, effective Oct. 5. The new rate applies to claims filed for the benefit year starting on or after October 5, 2008. Individuals who established a claim prior to the October 5 date and who have been collecting unemployment insurance are not affected by the increase. The weekly dependency allowance for each dependent, at $15 with a maximum of $75, remains unchanged. By law, any increase to the maximum weekly benefit is limited to $18 a year or 60% of the average manufacturing wage for the year ending June 30. The statutory limitation kept the increase this year to $18.
Change in maximum WC benefitsThe state Workers’ Compensation Commission has announced that the maximum weekly compensation benefit for total disability and decedents’ dependents will go to $1,141 for injuries occurring on or after October 1, 2008. The maximum weekly benefit for partial disability (incapacity) will be $892. The weekly benefit for total disability is equivalent to the average weekly earnings of all employees in the state, as determined by the State Labor Commissioner. The benefit for partial disability is equivalent to the average weekly earnings of production and related workers in manufacturing in the state. For more information, go to http://wcc.state.ct.us/memos/2008/2008-02.htm.
Reminder: EEO-1 due 9/30Covered employers are reminded that the EEO-1 report summarizing employees by job category, race and gender is due by Sept. 30. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) made a number of changes to the form, including new categories for race and ethnicity, for the report that was due in Sept. 2007. Although employers were not required to re-survey their workforce last year using the new race/ethnicity categories, many did. For the 2008 report, employers must re-survey if they have not done so already, preferably by asking employees to self-identify. The EEO-1 report must be filed annually by private employers with 100 or more employees and by federal contractors with 50 or more employees and a single federal contract worth $50,000 or more. Instructions are included with the form.
Backup care valued as benefitNinety-nine percent of employees who have used backup care sponsored by their employer think it’s an important employee benefit, according to a new survey, while 89% say just knowing the benefit is available reduces their stress. Backup care acts as a “safety net” for employees who have caregiver responsibilities, providing temporary care for children, the elderly and other loved ones when an employee’s regular caregiving arrangements are not available. The survey results also showed 78% of employees believe using the backup care increases their productivity at work; 77% say being offered the backup care benefit makes them more loyal to their company; 71% would have missed work without it. The survey included responses from 1,200 employees who had used backup care services through Work Options Group, a Colorado-based company that specializes in the provision of corporate-sponsored backup care. According to Work Options, a growing number of companies are adding backup care to their suite of benefits. Over the past year, the number of companies offering a backup care program through the group has increased 30% and the company anticipates scheduling 450,000 hours of backup care during 2008. The company has scheduled 184,000 hours of backup care during the first six months of 2008, a 90% increase over the same time period in 2007.
DOL recovers $7M in wagesGov. Rell has announced that the state Department of Labor (DOL) recovered nearly $7 million in unpaid wages for workers in Connecticut during the fiscal year that ended June 30. The DOL’s Division of Wage and Workplace Standards recovered $3.2 million after 3,234 workers complained they were not paid wages owed to them. The division also recovered $1 million by enforcing the state’s prevailing wage laws and returned $2 million more to workers unpaid for overtime or the minimum wage. Another $58,000 was recovered in back pay owed to service workers hired by private contractors for work on state property. The unit handled more than 25,000 telephone and written inquiries during the past fiscal year and provided outreach services to businesses and schools to ensure that laws were fully understood. For the latest information about a range of wage and hour issues, don’t miss CBIA’s Wage and Hour Conference, Tuesday, Oct. 21, North Haven Holiday Inn. To register visit the CBIA store online or contact Lise Cliche at lise.cliche@cbia.com or at 860-244-1977.
Majority say they are underpaid
When asked to say how they personally feel about their pay, 51% of Americans believe they are underpaid for the work they do, 46% feel they are paid the right amount, and 3% feel they are overpaid. In the Gallup poll of nearly 600 employed adults, some groups of Americans were more likely than others to say they are underpaid. Only 38% of those making $75,000 or more a year say they are underpaid, compared with 62% of those making less than $75,000. Somewhat surprisingly, the difference between men and women on this measure is much smaller, with 47% of men and 55% of women saying they are underpaid. The poll found little difference by race or by education in perception of being underpaid. Fifty-one percent of both whites and nonwhites say they feel underpaid. Similarly, 49% of those with high school educations or less say they are underpaid, compared with 52% of those with at least some college education.
New web seminar, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m.…First AidTeams: Recordkeeping, Confidentiality and Liability Issues. Learn straight-forward requirements, guidelines, and procedures for providing proper supplies and delivering effective, appropriate first aid in the workplace. Includes a discussion of Good Samaritan laws and their limitations. Presented by Chip Darius, president, Safety Priority Consultants, LLC. For more information or to register, go to http://webportal.cbia.com/Events/CalendarEventsListView.aspx.
Sign up now…annual Connecticut Workplace Law Symposium. CBIA once again is partnering with Jackson Lewis, one of the nation’s premier employment law firms, to bring you a full day of the latest guidance on employment law, compliance, and HR management strategies. Friday, Oct 17, Marriott in Trumbull. For a list of program topics or to register, go to http://www.cbia.com/training/genbus/JacksonLewis08.htm.
Program notes:
Update on top state, federal employment issues (New session added) Over the past year, there has been a flurry of activity in the areas of federal and state employment law. The courts also made a number of significant rulings sure to have a long-lasting impact on employers. Join CBIA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for a synopsis of recent legislative and regulatory developments, and gain insight into positions the government is likely to take in the future, on Tuesday, Sept. 30, starting with registration at 1 p.m. in CBIA’s offices in Hartford. The program runs from 1:30 to 3pm and is free to CBIA members; to register, contact CBIA’s Lise Cliche at 860-244-1900.
When you top managers grow, your company will, too. Register now for CBIA’s Management Institute series —a convenient, affordable way to prepare your employees for the increased responsibility that comes with leadership. Classes are held at CBIA in Hartford.
Learn from some of the most experienced HR experts in Connecticut by participating in CBIA’s Human Resources Council., a five-meeting series covering a range of HR topics.The council will meet at CBIA in Hartford from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. To register or for more information.
'What To Do about Personnel Problems in Connecticut'CBIA is partnering with Connecticut Human Resource Reports LLC to offer members one of the most comprehensive sources on HR issues in Connecticut. What to Do About Personnel Problems in Connecticut delivers clear, straightforward, state-specific guidance for handling all the employment related and HR issues that crop up in your organization on a daily basis. It’s a single resource — updated regularly — that offers guidance in hundreds of key areas, from absenteeism to FMLA leave to overtime pay to workers’ compensation. This unique guide is available to CBIA members for only $350. That’s a $50 savings off the regular price. For more information or to order, contact Lise Cliche at 860-244-1977 or e-mail her at lise.cliche@cbia.com .
CBIA’s Management Institute will make your best managers even betterCBIA's Management Institute, a series of courses designed to prepare your top managers for that next promotion. This series of courses covers topics ranging from business strategy to accounting to marketing and negotiating. They were developed to offer member companies a cost effective and convenient means to provide their talented mangers with the academic underpinning that allows them to take on a greater role in their companies. More information and to register. CBIA's 2007-2008 Compensation ReportFind out if your company’s wages and salaries are in line with those of similar businesses right here in Connecticut. Competitive compensation is key to attracting and retaining top performers. This report contains real wages and salaries paid by small, large and midsize Connecticut employers representing various industries and sizes. More than 150 positions are included in the areas of manufacturing, engineering, accounting, data processing, clerical/administration, purchasing and sales/marketing. Data are reported on a statewide basis and more narrowly by geographic region when possible. The report also includes information about bonuses and the minimum, midpoint and maximum salaries for established position ranges. In addition, for the first time CBIA has partnered with Adecco, a leader in human resource solutions, to include their salary survey data. As a result of this partnership, we’ve created a comprehensive document that provides a better analysis of salaries and wages paid in Connecticut. Includes information about more than 150 positions! • Accountant/Financial • Advertising Director • Administrative Assistant • Assembly Foreman • Bench Assembler • Buyer • Customer Service • Director of HR • Director of Marketing • DP Manager • Drill Press Operator • Engineer • Lab Technician • Machine Operator • Mechanical Engineer • Personnel Manager • Production Worker • Programmer • Purchasing Manager • Safety Engineer • Tool, Die and Gauge Maker • TQM Manager To order, visit the CBIA Store:"Compensation Report" Who should telecommute?The success of a telecommuting program largely depends on which employees are chosen to become telecommuters. Not all employees are suited to telecommuting or even want to telecommute; so determining who can be a successful telecommuter is key. Employees best suited for telecommuting are:
Telecommute Connecticut recommends that employers use a “Self-Nomination Form,” which gives employees the option to describe their pro-telecommuting characteristics, the telecommuting site and proposed work to be done while telecommuting. This helps both employers and employees determine if they are suited to telecommuting. It’s important to remember that telecommuting should be offered at the discretion of the employer. In fact, it is always a good idea to mention that telecommuting is neither a perk nor an entitlement or benefit. Telecommute Connecticut!, a commuter service of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, provides Connecticut employers with free assistance to custom-design, develop and implement telecommuting best practices for qualified employees. For more information about Telecommute Connecticut!, visit www.telecommuteCT.com or call (800) 255-7433. Are you in compliance with state and federal posting requirements?CBIA
has all the posters you need to comply with your state and federal posting
obligations. Click
here to find out what your company needs to post. After you find out
what you need to post, click here for more information on CBIA's poster
kits.
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© 2003 Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA). All rights reserved. The articles, forms and other materials available through this Web site are for informational purposes only. They are not intended as legal advice or as a solution to an individual problem. You are encouraged to consult with appropriate legal counsel prior to relying on the materials in whole or in part.
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