Gov. Lamont pronounces new web site for Connecticut’s paid family and medical depart program

Governor Ned Lamont announced in a press release a new website designed to help Connecticut residents navigate the state’s state family and sick leave program, which is expected to take place in January 2021.

“Nobody should have to decide whether to take care of their family when they need them most or to pay their bills,” said Governor Lamont in a press release. “This program has been carefully designed to ensure that working families in our state don’t have to make this difficult choice.”

The program, which is funded with a 0.5 percent wage deduction from Connecticut employees, allows up to $ 780 per week for FMLA vacation for up to 12 weeks, depending on pay. The payout increases when the Connecticut minimum wage increases to $ 15 an hour.

However, FMLA payments can fluctuate based on how much revenue is generated from the wage deduction.

Although wage deductions will begin in 2021, workers will not be able to use the program until 2022. The pre-financing phase will help build the coffers of the trust fund before payments are made.

Leave can be taken for medical reasons or to take care of a blood relative or person who is like a family, in accordance with the law. The individual must have earned at least $ 2,325 in their highest quarter and either be employed or have been employed in the past 12 weeks.

The program, estimated to cost $ 18.6 million a year, is run by the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority, a quasi-public body of which Andrea Barton Reeves is the chief executive officer.

Reeves was selected to head the Paid Leave Authority in January 2020 and receives a salary of $ 210,000.

The 15-person board overseeing the Paid Vacation Authority is led by Administrative Services Commissioner Josh Geballe and consists of representatives from the governor, lawmakers and auditor.

The Connecticut-paid FMLA program was passed in 2019 and signed into law by Governor Lamont.

Corporations are pushing against legislation that applies to businesses with more than one employee, a massive expansion of FMLA federal laws that apply to businesses with 50 or more employees.

The Connecticut Business and Industry Association says the mandate will “cripple” small businesses because it will be difficult to find replacements in their absence.

“The last thing we should do is add to the growing cost of running a business in this state,” said Eric Gjede, vice president of legislative outreach at CBIA.

The legislation has been driven by the Connecticut unions and a variety of organizations including the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, the Working Families Party, and Connecticut Voices for Children.

Connecticut unions have three representatives on the 14-person board: CT AFL-CIO President Sal Luciano, SEIU organizer Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, and Justin Zartman, Connecticut Education Association staff member.

“The launch of this comprehensive new website is an important step forward in our goal of making these resources easier for employers, workers and healthcare providers and providing a gateway to essential information for all people about their rights, roles and responsibilities on this new website better understand program, ”said Reeves.