Major changes expand Connecticut FMLA on January 1

Perhaps the biggest change happening to the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act (CFMLA) in 2022 is the addition of paid family and medical leave, but other significant changes are also taking place effective January 1, including how much leave employees may take. Employers should be prepared for the significant developments.

More employees become eligible for more leave

Until now, the CFMLA applied only to employers with at least 75 employees. Under the amended law, most businesses employing at least one person in Connecticut will have to start allowing employees to take the leave. Moreover, more individuals may be eligible. Previously, an employee had to be employed for at least 12 months to take the leave, but under the amended law, they may qualify in as little as three months.

The amount of family and medical leave eligible employees are entitled to use is also changing. Until now, they could take up to 16 weeks of leave in a two-year period under Connecticut law. Beginning January 1, however, they can take 12 weeks in a one-year period, which makes state law consistent with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and increases the amount of time employees can take (to 24 weeks over two years, up from the previous 16). Employees also may be entitled to an additional two weeks of leave if they experience a pregnancy-related serious health condition.