Connecticut’s new sick time law, explained

CT Insider – Thursday, January 2, 2025
By Katherine Lutge

In 2025, more Connecticut workers will have paid sick time off, thanks to expanded state legislation that took effect Jan. 1.

Connecticut companies with 25 or more employees will be required to provide up to 40 hours of sick time off starting in 2025. In 2026, the threshold will drop to 11 employees and then down to one employee by 2027.

Only companies with 50 or more employees were required to provide paid sick leave before this legislation was enacted. During the legislative session, lawmakers voted to expand the requirement to include most workers in the state.

State Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, co-chairwoman of the legislative Labor and Public Employees Committee, said the law aims to support Connecticut’s low-income service workers who previously did not receive paid sick time, forcing them to choose between staying home or working while sick for a paycheck.

How much sick time do I get?

The legislation dictates that for every 30 hours of work, an employee earns one hour of paid sick leave, with a maximum of 40 hours per year.

Employers may provide a greater amount of sick leave or at a faster rate than the law requires.

Does sick time carry over?

Employees will also be able to carry over time off from one calendar year to another, but it cannot exceed a total of 40 hours.

What counts as sick time?

The law also expands and outlines what employees can use their sick leave for. Workers can request time off if they are ill or injured, but also if their family members, like a child or spouse, are sick and need care.

Time off can be used for both mental and physical illnesses. Sick leave may also be used for seeking treatment or preventative care. The paid time can also be linked with closures due to public health emergencies and quarantines.

Do I need proof that I’m sick?

Employees do not need to provide documented proof to use their sick leave. The legislation also states that employees will not have to find a replacement to use their sick leave.

From a public health perspective, this law aims to minimize the spread of illness by giving people the freedom to stay home or keep their kids at home when necessary.

Does my company have to provide sick time?

By Jan 1, 2026, companies with 11 or more employees must provide workers with their accrued sick time off. By Jan 1, 2027, companies with just one employee must also provide paid sick leave.

This law mostly affects private-sector companies, exempting seasonal workers and certain unionized construction workers, according to an analysis of the legislation by non-partisan General Assembly staff.

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