Administration Pushes Warehouse Productivity Restrictions

The Lamont administration is pushing an expansive bill restricting how large warehouse distribution centers monitor productivity and performance.

Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz joined Teamsters officials at a New Haven press conference this week to urge lawmakers to approve the legislation.

SB 1254 mandates that warehouse distribution centers with 250 or more employees in one location provide workers with detailed work speed data, productivity metrics, and an explanation of changes made to productivity metrics or daily tasks.

The bill also allows employees who believe their employer is noncompliant to bring a private right of action against their employer, while permitting the attorney general to investigate complaints.

Legislative Democrats are pushing two similar bills—SB 8 and HB 6907—which apply to warehouse distribution centers with 100 or more employees at one location.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, vetoed similar legislation March 24, citing legal and operational issues, lack of clarity, lack of due process, and state budget uncertainty due to federal funding challenges. 

Existing Protections

Warehouse distribution centers are one of the fastest growing sectors of Connecticut’s economy, employing tens of thousands of residents.

Amazon alone employs more than 17,000 employees in Connecticut and has significantly grown its operations in the state, investing nearly $10 billion since 2010.

The bills are redundant, as federal and state workplace safety protections are already in place.

While workplace safety is a top concern for employers, the bills are redundant, as federal and state workplace safety protections are already in place.

Those protections support employees’ ability to file complaints with the Department of Labor for lack of workplace safety measures.

In addition, companies like Amazon already provide their employees with the opportunity to access productivity metrics on a kiosk at any time throughout their shift.

‘Duplicative’

Connecticut employers already satisfy most of the bills’ requirements and exposing them to private rights of action—particularly given the lack of clarity on which metrics can or can’t be used—will lead to added costs and liability and administrative burdens.

“Connecticut should be encouraging the growth of one of the fastest growing job creation sectors in the economy, not passing legislation that targets it,” said CBIA’s Paul Amarone.

“It’s important that legislative leaders and the administration listen to the concerns of employers impacted by this legislation.”

“These bills are duplicative, add significant legal liability on employers, and can lead to increased operational costs.

“It’s important that legislative leaders and the administration listen to the concerns of employers impacted by this legislation and work with them to ensure Connecticut isn’t stifling innovation and job growth.”

All three bills were approved on party line votes by the Labor and Public Employees Committee and await action in either the Senate or House.

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For more information, contact CBIA’s Paul Amarone (860.244.1978)