CT's Paid Family Leave Program Nears, Launches New Explanatory Website

Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Paid Leave Authority have announced the launch of a new website – CTPaidLeave.org – with the goal of supporting all Connecticut residents to understand their roles, rights, and responsibilities based on Connecticut’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA), described as the most comprehensive in the nation.

The Connecticut Paid Leave program is set to begin on January 1, 2021, making the new website a vital tool for all impacted employees, employers, sole proprietors and self-employed individuals to understand their roles and responsibilities. The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA) offers Connecticut workers the opportunity to take time to attend to personal and family health needs without worrying about lost income.

Paid Leave program benefits become accessible to qualified employees beginning on January 1, 2022. The site is built to provide information for all employers, employees, and healthcare providers to better navigate this new, comprehensive program, administered by the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority.

“Never has it been more clear the importance of having resources available to Connecticut working families as they balance their workplace responsibilities with their personal and family health needs,” Connecticut Paid Leave CEO Andrea Barton Reeves said. “The launching of this comprehensive new website is a significant step forward in our goal to help employers, employees and healthcare providers access these resources, and to provide a gateway to vital information for everyone to better understand their rights, roles and responsibilities in this new program.”

The new website serves as more than just an informational guide to the new PFMLA legislation, according to officials.  It also provides many of the tools needed by employers, employees, third-party administrators and healthcare professionals to begin preparing for and implementing the changes necessitated by this new program. Some of these tools include:

·         Downloadable fact sheets, video guides and timelines specific to employer, employee and sole proprietor/self-employed individuals' needs.

·         An estimator tool to help employees anticipate payroll deductions. (The program is funded through payroll deductions)

·         Resources for sole proprietors and self-employed individuals interested in opting in to the program.

·         Resources for employers interested in applying for an exemption from the program.

·         Resources specific to all business types on how to register with the CT Paid Leave Authority.

·         Frequently Asked Questions that are updated periodically to include the most common inquiries.

Governor Lamont signed the Paid Family Medical Leave Act into law on June 25, 2019, as Connecticut became the seventh state to endorse a family leave program. The formation of the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority was a result of last year’s legislation, and provides Connecticut’s workforce access to paid leave benefits, as well as helpful tools and resources to help employers administer this new program. CEO Andrea Barton Reeves was appointed as CEO of the authority, a quasi-public agency, in March.

The website launch is the latest step that began with the efforts of many people and organizations advocating for the support of the paid family and medical leave in Connecticut. In particular, the co-chairs of the Labor and Public Employees Committee, State Senator Julie Kushner and State Representative Robyn Porter, were instrumental in making Connecticut Paid Leave program a reality, the Governor’s Office indicated in a news release.  In addition to advocacy in the Connecticut state legislature, this new program was widely supported by the private sector — including business owners, labor groups, employees, and healthcare providers.

“The launch of this comprehensive website marks a critical step as Connecticut enacts one of the strongest paid leave programs in the country,” Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF) Policy Director Madeline Granato said. “CWEALF is proud to continue to lead the campaign for paid family leave here in Connecticut and work alongside the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority to ensure that all workers in our state receive critical information and resources about Connecticut’s new and upcoming paid leave program.”

“No one should have to choose between caring for their family when they need it most, and paying their bills,” Governor Lamont said. “This program was put together thoughtfully to ensure that working families in our state don’t have to make that tough choice.”

The new website notes that part-time workers, as well as full-time employees, will be eligible for the program benefits. All employees who have earned at least $2,325 in the highest quarter of the first four of the five most recent quarters immediately before their application for leave and who are either currently employed by a Connecticut employer or were employed by a Connecticut employer during the 12 weeks immediately preceding the application are eligible to apply for paid leave, the site explains.

“Now more than ever,” Lamont added, “it’s important that we make these tools available – if we’ve learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s the importance of planning ahead. This website is an incredible tool that will help employers and employees alike effectively prepare for this new program.”