KemLaw

As the Connecticut Legislature prepares to open the 2020 legislative session, we look ahead to examine some of the key labor and employment law issues they may tackle that will impact Connecticut employers.

To do that, we look first at what the majority Senate Democrats announced they have in mind for the new session.

• A New Look at Non-Disclosure Agreements:
  • Senate Democrats are proposing new legislation “to protect workers from discrimination and harassment by making non-disclosure agreements illegal in the state.”  Proposals are under consideration to prohibit employers from requiring their employees to enter certain non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) which contain language prohibiting the employee from discussing or disclosing matters of workplace discrimination, including sexual harassment.

Under this new legislation, “employers would still be able to require employees to sign an NDA to the extent the NDA addresses other matters, such as trade secrets, marketing strategies, client lists, and other non-public information that employees are commonly expected to keep confidential.”

• Captive Audience Meetings
  • Senate Democrats are considering new legislation “to prohibit employers from coercing employees into attending or participating in meetings sponsored by the employer concerning the employer’s views on religious or political matters.”
• Age Discrimination
  • Senate Democrats are looking to increase job protections for older workers.  They intend to do this by introducing “bipartisan legislation that would prohibit employers from asking the age, date of birth, or graduation dates of job applicants — unless a particular age is a bona fide occupational qualification, such as being a bartender or an interstate truck driver.”
• 21st Century Jobs
  • Senate Democrats announced intentions to “expand existing and establish new incentives for large and small businesses that hire new employees under new and expanded criteria such as unemployed, low income, veterans, or disabled. Democrats believe these incentives may serve to “counteract difficulties and roadblocks faced by individuals otherwise struggling to attain employment and strengthen our state’s economy by further lowering the unemployment rate.”

Will any of these new initiatives make it into law?  Only time will tell. 

You can be sure we will be monitoring developments and reporting back to you.

If you’re an employer and have questions about labor and employment law, consider calling on the attorneys at Kainen, Escalera & McHale in Connecticut.  We do one thing and one thing only – we are an employer defense law firm – in fact, we are one of the largest employer defense law firms in the region.  What’s more, each of our attorneys has over 25 years of experience in employment and labor law matters and can provide your business with comprehensive legal counsel ranging from assistance with necessary preventive measures to trial advocacy.  Please contact us if we can help you.

Please Note: We do not represent employees. We only work with employers.

The information provided above is made available by Kainen, Escalera & McHale, P.C. for educational purposes only.  It is not intended to provide specific legal advice to your individual circumstances or legal questions. You acknowledge that neither your reading of, nor posting on, this site establishes an attorney-client relationship between you and our law firm, or any of our attorneys. This information should not be used as a substitute for seeking competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state, nor is it provided for the specific purpose of soliciting your business on any particular matter. Readers of this information should not act upon anything communicated in it without seeking professional counsel.