CBIA, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and a coalition of employer groups filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on Nov. 1 challenging Connecticut’s so-called captive audience law.
The National Federation of Independent Business, National Retail Federation, Connecticut Retail Merchants Association, Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, National Association of Home Builders, Associated Builders and Contractors, and Associated Builders and Contractors of Connecticut are all part of the coalition.
Connecticut’s law took effect July 1, 2022 and threatens employers with liability for speaking with employees about a range of important workplace issues, including pending laws or regulations.
The controversial law drastically restricts employers from communicating with employees about “political matters,” with that term broadly defined to include legislative and regulatory proposals and participation in civic and community organizations.
The state legislature approved the measure this year after a decade-plus of failed attempts to pass similar legislation.
CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima called the law “an unnecessary and unconstitutional infringement on the rights of employers to communicate with employees in the workplace.”
“The decision to file this lawsuit was not taken lightly,” he said. “We value our working relationships and the open lines of communication with the administration and state policymakers.
“However,...
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