For months, employers have been eagerly awaiting updated regulations that address the revisions to the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act. At last, on March 22, 2022, the Connecticut Department of Labor ("CT DOL") released its final proposed amended CTFMLA regulations, answering questions that had remained unanswered by the revised law. Indeed, the proposed regulations amend several key provisions of the prior CTFMLA regulations. Here are the key highlights for employers:
Under the old regulations and law, an employee was required to work for 12 months before becoming eligible for CTFMLA leave. Under the proposed regulations, this timeframe has been significantly decreased to three consecutive months. Notably, the term "employee" has been narrowed to one who is engaged in services with an employer in the state of Connecticut and an "employer" has been expanded to any Connecticut employer that employs at least one employee, rather than 75.
Covered family members - that is, those family members that an employee can seek leave to assist -- now includes spouses, siblings, parents, grandparents, and grandchildren, as well as individuals related by blood or affinity whose close relationship with the employee is equivalent to a relationship with one of these family members, and coverage for a son or daughter is no longer limited to the age of 18. Instead, the proposed regulations extend coverage to a son or daughter of any age.
...
The Health Minister says talk of treatment delays at Starship hospital has been blown out of proportion. The Auckland children's hospital's confirmed about 20 chemotherapy cycles have been delayed...