Employee Rights Blog

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about mediation. Mediation is a tool that we use to […]

In a recent opinion, the Second Circuit handed future employees claiming retaliation more ammunition for such claims by reinstating a $700,000 jury verdict in a Title VII case that was […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about non-competes. We do a lot of work representing employees […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about the FMLA today. We help a lot of folks […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. We’re talking about one of my favorite topics today. What is it? Goodbaum: We’re talking about basketball, and it’s basketball and employment […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about employees who live in one place and work in […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Thought we would talk about disparate impact liability, which is something that we use in […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about artificial intelligence. It’s everywhere, right? We really can’t get […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about health benefits and how they are impacted if an […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about an employee who’s been terminated for alleged misconduct and […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about whether or not an employee can sue their former […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about reasonable accommodations for disabilities. We talk about reasonable accommodations […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hey, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about an employee who faces a very difficult decision, which […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about an employee who asks for a reasonable accommodation and […]

Summary: Employees with chronic medical conditions are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and similar state laws, including the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act. If symptoms of a […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about disability discrimination. We’ve talked a lot about disabilities in […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about the Family & Medical Leave Act (or FMLA). Although […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda, what are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about age discrimination. We’ve talked about it before, and the […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about a Connecticut employee who is a member of a […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: We’ve been talking a bit about the intersection between our Connecticut workers’ compensation laws and […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about workplace investigations. These can be really stressful for employees […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about the intersection between workers’ compensation and various employment laws […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Well, we represent a number of executives who are dealing with contract negotiations. Maybe the […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we talking about today? Goodbaum: Well, we have another exciting intersection between celebrity news and employment law, and that, of […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about a manager who is being harassed by her […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Well, we have another viewer question, which we love. I’m gonna read it, and then […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about staffing. Say a potential client comes to you and […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: Well, we have a viewer question. We have posted a video that’s been […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Well, we have another viewer question, which is really exciting. Thank you so much if […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hey, Josh. I hear we have a question from a viewer today. Goodbaum: Yes, we love those questions. Please keep them coming. Here’s the […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about working from home — still something on top of […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about notice periods. So, picture this hypothetical: A potential client […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I wanna ask you a question that I get all the time and I […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought I’d give you a hypothetical and then you can answer it for our […]

​Summary: As of January 1, 2024, Connecticut law (Public Act 21-200) bars individuals from receiving both severance pay and unemployment benefits for the same weeks. For instance, if an employee […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I wanna talk about a client who came to me because she has cataracts. […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about a potential client who gets an offer letter that […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: We’re gonna talk about non-competes – something that we cover quite a bit on these […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna chat about today? Goodbaum: I saw a story on the news recently about a guy who graduated from […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: Well, the law is full of acronyms, and employment law is no exception. […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I had an interesting consultation this week, and I’m hoping that you can shed some […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about bullying – a big topic for a lot of […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hey, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: Well, I want to talk about reasonable accommodations for disabilities, and in particular, […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about a potential client that comes in to see us, […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we could talk about artificial intelligence. We’re seeing it virtually everywhere. Whether it’s […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about sexual harassment. We know from the #MeToo Movement […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about disability discrimination, particularly reasonable accommodations. So, let’s imagine that […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Let’s talk about the First Amendment. We all know that we have a wonderful Constitution […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hey, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about a nurse whose schedule has been changed involuntarily. […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Well, I have a hypothetical for you. A potential client comes in, they just left […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hey, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: We’re going to talk about side hustles. There are a lot of families […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we’d talk about unemployment benefits. A question we get asked a lot: “If […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about a practical problem for a lot of folks in […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hey, Josh. What are we gonna chat about today? Goodbaum: Okay, so a client comes to me and says, “I’ve watched your video about […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: Okay, we’ve talked a lot about reasonable accommodations for folks with disabilities, but then […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I wanna talk about a potential client who came to us and said basically, […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we gonna talk about today? DeMatteis: We’ve talked a lot on these videos about non-competes, but they just keep coming […]

On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (or FTC) issued a final rule that, if it goes into effect, would ban covenants not to compete (also known as “non-compete […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. I hear we have a fun topic today. Goodbaum: Well, the topic is basketball, and I know it’s fun for you because […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion, which is commonly known as […]

Summary: When an employee is let go and handed a severance agreement, one of the first questions they often have is, “Is this a fair deal?” While employers are not […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna chat about today? Goodbaum: Well, I wanna talk about marijuana but in a way that is about employment […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about the issue that has been going on for such […]

Summary: When someone hires a nanny, au pair, or in-home caregiver in Connecticut, a common question is, “Am I considered an employer?” In many cases, the answer is yes. Under […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we gonna talk about today? DeMatteis: Well, I had a potential client come in to see me that had a […]

Summary: When workplace issues come up—whether it’s responding to performance-related issues, coaching sessions, or something more serious such as discrimination or retaliation—employees often wonder, “Should I put this in writing?” […]

Summary: Connecticut provides strong protections for employee political expression under Connecticut General Statute §31-51q, which bars employers from disciplining or firing workers for exercising their free speech rights, so long […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: Well, I wanna talk about workers’ compensation. Because, in addition to being an outstanding […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: Well, I wanna talk about football because it is Super Bowl week. We’re gearing […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about something that could impact really all levels of employees […]

Summary: In Connecticut, an employee fired after a company vehicle is stolen may not have a legal claim. This becomes more likely if the employer believes there was negligence on […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Nice shirt! Goodbaum: Haha. Yeah, we’re twins. But, what are we talking about? DeMatteis: What are we gonna talk about? You tell […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about a question that I get really frequently: Someone comes […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we talking about today? Goodbaum: Well, you tell me that we are talking about something called Bluey, and I have […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: We actually got a question on YouTube, and I thought we should absolutely answer it […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Well, if you’ve watched the news at all recently, you’ve seen that Shohei Ohtani has […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about a new client who came to me the other […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about caste discrimination. I heard this come up in a […]

Summary: In Connecticut, employers with 26 or more employees generally cannot require workers to repay training costs after leaving a job, under Connecticut General Statutes §31-51r. While there are limited […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: Well, you know I love some celebrity gossip and I love when celebrity gossip […]

Summary: The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take leave for a serious health condition affecting themselves or a close family member, even if they are […]

Summary: In 303 Creative v. Elenis, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a business owner couldn’t be compelled to create custom wedding websites for same sex couples if it conflicted […]

Summary: The Dartmouth men’s basketball team is seeking to unionize, raising the question of whether student-athletes qualify as employees under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). While most universities don’t […]

Summary: Before accepting a new job, it is essential to review the employment contract with a lawyer. This is especially important when dealing with a startup or an unfamiliar employer. […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hey, Josh. What are we going to chat about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about the FMLA — an important topic in employment […]

Summary: Employees receiving stock options should understand the risks involved. Unlike stock grants, options give the right to buy shares later, often in private companies where selling shares is difficult. […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: We are talking about a person at work who drums up the courage to go […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: Well, I know you are a proud feminist, as am I. And I […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we going to talk about today? DeMatteis: Well, you did a video for us a few months back about an […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hey Josh, what are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about Connecticut Paid Leave, which is a wonderful benefit that […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about menopause. Not a typical topic that we cover here […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about a new federal law: The Pregnant Workers Fairness […]

Unfortunately, many employees find themselves in situations where their mental and emotional health and well-being are negatively affected by their employment. Most of the time, though, employees in Connecticut are […]

Summary: If an employer ends remote work and requires a return to the office, employees generally must comply, unless they have a qualifying disability. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act […]

Summary: Can you be lawfully terminated by your current employer because you applied or interviewed for a new job? In most cases, yes. If you’re an at-will employee, which most […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about commissions. So, let’s imagine we have a client that […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about sexual harassment. Serious topic, a sad topic, one you […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about an employee that comes in and they say, “I’ve […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we gonna talk about today? DeMatteis: I hear New York has a new law that prevents a novel form of […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we gonna talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about an employee who’s experiencing a hostile work environment. It […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about an employment law client that I have met […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about the Family and Medical Leave Act, or FMLA, […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we’d talk about an employee who’s been working for a company for a […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I understand we are talking about love and basketball, which – in addition […]

Summary: An employee seeking FMLA leave cannot be denied simply for not using an employer’s preferred form. The law only requires that the employee provide enough information to indicate that […]

Summary: As more employers relax tattoo policies, questions about workplace rights are growing. While most Connecticut employees are “at-will” and can be terminated for visible tattoos, exceptions may apply if […]

When an employee is terminated from their job, they frequently receive a severance package that promises money in exchange for certain restrictions. In order to receive their severance payment, the […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about Twitter. How’s that for an attention grabber? What […]

Particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many Connecticut-based workers are working from home for employers based in other states. With this rise of remote work, Connecticut employees may wonder whether […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would chat about sexual harassment but in a little bit of a […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about reasonable accommodations. And when we think about reasonable […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Well, we have a viewer question, which is pretty exciting. Employee wants a religious holiday […]

Summary: In Connecticut, recording laws depend on the type of communication. For in-person conversations, only one party needs to consent, and that can be you! Recording without any party’s knowledge […]

Begins at 1:30:32 here. Joshua Goodbaum: Thank you, Chairman Sanchez, Ranking Member Ackert, distinguished Members of the Committee. My name is Josh Goodbaum, and I’m a partner in the law […]

Summary: Connecticut employees with physical or mental disabilities can request a reasonable accommodation by taking three steps. First, submit a written request to your employer. Second, provide medical certification from […]

The end of an employment relationship, whether it was unexpected or voluntary, can come with several questions about what comes next. One of these questions is likely, “When will I […]

Summary: In Connecticut, sexual harassment laws protect both employees and job applicants. If you experience harassment during the application or interview process, you have legal rights under Section 46a-60(b)(8). You […]

On January 10, 2023, Connecticut dispensaries opened for the sale of recreational marijuana for the first time in the state’s history. Employees who choose to partake may have some questions, […]

The nature of non-compete litigation – in particular, its (often exclusive) focus on the preliminary injunctive stage – means that non-compete cases rarely reach a final judgment and the Connecticut […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! What’re we going to talk about today? DeMatteis: Let’s talk about non-competes. Of course, we’ve talked about them before, but there’s actually […]

Changes are coming to the way Connecticut employers can investigate and use the criminal background information of current and prospective employees. A new Connecticut statute known as the “Clean Slate” […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! What do you want to talk about today? DeMatteis: Well, I thought we would talk about pregnancy. So, I am very close […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! What are we going to talk about today? DeMatteis: I thought we could talk about unemployment. It’s kind of surprising that a […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Well, we’re still dealing with COVID, whether we want to be or not, but it’s […]

The Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act (CFEPA) is the Connecticut law that prohibits discrimination in employment. Enacted in the late 1940s, the CFEPA predated the federal Civil Rights Act by […]

Summary: Connecticut employees receiving workers’ compensation benefits for a job-related injury have important job and benefit protections under our state and federal laws that protect employees. Three laws may help […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk about non-competes. Non-competes are these restrictive covenants that a lot […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Let’s talk about a Connecticut employee who feels as though they are working in a […]

Summary: Connecticut employees who receive disciplinary actions, such as warnings, reviews, or improvement plans, have rights under the Connecticut Personnel Files Act. If you disagree with the discipline you receive, […]

Betsy Ingraham: Hello. My name is Betsy Ingraham. I’m an attorney at the law firm of Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, and today, we’re going to be talking about what […]

Summary: Small business owners, especially in fields such as law, real estate, or finance, should consult an employment attorney when selling their business. Buyers often ask the original owner to […]

Summary: Post-employment restrictive covenants limit what employees can do after leaving a job and typically include five types. (1) Non-compete agreements, which restrict work with competitors. (2) Confidentiality agreements, which […]

Summary: With remote work now a lasting reality for many Connecticut employees, maintaining professionalism at home is essential. Key practices include dressing appropriately, setting up a dedicated workspace, following company […]

Betsy Ingraham: Hi, this is Betsy Ingraham, an attorney at the law firm of Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti in New Haven, Connecticut, and we’re here today to talk about […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we could talk about the FMLA. So, a number of Connecticut employees, and […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hey, Amanda! Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I want to talk about Connecticut Paid Leave. This is a big thing […]

The Family and Medical Leave Act (or FMLA) allows qualified employees to take job-protected leave to care for their own or their family members’ serious health conditions. This means that […]

Stephen Fitzgerald: Hi, Nina. Nina Pirrotti: Hey, Steve! What are we going to talk about today? Fitzgerald: Well, I was thinking about the situations – you and I have experienced […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I thought we could talk about sexual harassment and sexual assault. Obviously very […]

Summary: Non-compete agreements affect nearly 40% of Connecticut workers, yet their enforceability remains unclear under current law. Proposed legislation, House Bill 5249, seeks to reform this by limiting non-competes to […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we could talk about performance improvement plans – always something that’s scary to […]

Summary: The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for employees with serious health conditions or those caring for ill family members. […]

Nina Pirrotti: We’re going to talk about severance payments today, and this is something that we deal with all the time at the Garrison law firm. Many of our clients […]

Stephen Fitzgerald: Hi, Nina. Nina Pirrotti: Hey, Steve. Fitzgerald: Hi, so I understand today you’re going to be talking about workplace investigations. What are some pointers that you could offer […]

Joshua Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I thought we could talk about workplace harassment – obviously, a serious issue […]

Summary: Employees considering a romantic relationship at work should follow key guidelines to avoid legal and professional issues. (1) Review company policies, as many employers restrict or prohibit workplace relationships. […]

Many workplace sexual harassment cases ultimately boil down to conflicting stories offered by the accuser and the accused. A female employee says that her male boss repeatedly commented on her […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: So, you know how we always love to keep Connecticut employees up to date on […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we could talk about the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act. This is […]

Summary: If Connecticut employees are considering resigning, it’s important to weigh the legal and financial implications. Resigning can negatively impact potential legal claims. In fact, leaving your employment voluntarily may […]

In September 2021, President Biden announced what he called a “COVID-19 Action Plan” that included a number of so-called “mandates”: All employers with 100+ employees had to require their employees […]

January 1 often marks the effective date of new laws enacted during previous legislative years.  For Connecticut employment lawyers who represent employees (as we do at Garrison, Levin-Epstein), the start […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! What are we going to talk about today? DeMatteis: So, I have an interesting one, I think. I had a client come […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda! Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we talking about today? Goodbaum: I thought we could talk about the Family and Medical Leave Act, or the FMLA, […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh! Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Today, we’re talking about the Family and Medical Leave Act. This is a federal law, […]

Americans are quitting their jobs in record numbers, prompting many to dub 2021 the start of the “Great Resignation” or the “Big Quit.”  When it’ll end, of course, is anyone’s […]

Summary: Before filing a lawsuit for workplace discrimination or retaliation, employees must first file a claim with an administrative agency, either the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) […]

It is always exciting when we have a new law in Connecticut that offers additional protections for our employees. “An Act Concerning the Disclosure of Salary Range for a Vacant […]

Joshua Goodbaum: Hi Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi Josh, what are we going talk about today? Goodbaum: I thought we could talk about an exciting new law that provides additional protection […]

Summary: Many employees, particularly women, experience workplace sexual harassment but remain silent out of fear of job loss, especially when financial stability is at stake. This fear can cause them […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi Amanda, what are we talking about today? DeMatteis: Well, I thought we would talk about fake references. And this is actually something that […]

On September 9, 2021, President Biden announced a new “COVID-19 Action Plan” that he says will help the country find a “path out of the pandemic.” The Plan has six […]

I was scrolling through Instagram the other day – yes, lawyers procrastinate too – and I came across this post: I couldn’t tell whether it was trying to offer legal […]

Summary: Connecticut law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for exercising their rights under the Workers’ Compensation Act. This includes reporting an injury, filing a claim, or receiving medical treatment. […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we going talk about today? DeMatteis: Today, we’re going to talk about non-competes. There’s been a huge development in non-competes […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Josh Goodbaum: I thought we could return to the topic of COVID and vaccines […]

Although the LGBTQ community has experienced huge milestones in the last several years—most recently, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, which confirmed that federal […]

Connecticut employees frequently contact us for legal advice about their right to medical leave and the consequences for taking a medical leave.  Here are some of the most common questions […]

Many Connecticut employees continue to wonder whether their employer can require them to get the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have been keeping up with the vaccine saga the last several […]

On June 22, 2021, Governor Ned Lamont signed into law the Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis Act (or RERACA), which broadly legalizes the adult use of cannabis in […]

As the news has reported, President Joe Biden is signing an Executive Order that the White House hopes will promote competition in the economy.  One component of the Order instructs […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda.  What are we talking about today? DeMatteis: I thought we would talk a bit about COVID-19 in the workplace, and although we’ve […]

Nina Pirrotti: Hey Steve. Steve Fitzgerald: Hi Nina. Nina Pirrotti: I understand that we’re talking about whistleblowers today and in particular, a couple of Connecticut statutes that protect whistleblowers. Maybe […]

You may have heard that, last week, Governor Lamont signed into law the Act Concerning the Disclosure of Salary Range for a Vacant Position.  The title of the law is […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today?  Goodbaum: I thought we could talk about separation agreements or severance agreements. A lot […]

 Summary: When an employee in Connecticut receives a cease-and-desist letter—or worse, gets sued—over a non-compete agreement, one of their first questions is often, “Can they really do this?” In […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. DeMatteis: What are we going to chat about today? Goodbaum: I thought we could talk about performance improvement plans. So, people often […]

 Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk to Connecticut employees about today? Goodbaum: I thought we could talk about harassment and hostile […]

Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. What are we going to talk about today? Goodbaum: I thought we could talk about how people find lawyers and in particular, […]

It is natural for a job layoff or termination – especially one that feels discriminatory, retaliatory, or just plain unfair – to bring a wave of emotions and questions about […]

Summary: In March 2021, Governor Lamont signed into law the CROWN Act, which promoted inclusivity and respect for natural hair in Connecticut workplaces. This law addresses a critical issue: employees […]

Summary: As the COVID-19 crisis continues to affect many, the federal government has stepped in to provide crucial support through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). A key element of […]

Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh. Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. DeMatteis: I hear we’re going to talk about some COVID-related issues today. Goodbaum: Yeah, so we’re living in the age of a […]

SUMMARY: When people mention working in a “hostile work environment,” they often mean different things. Legally, though, the term has a specific definition. For a workplace to be considered “hostile,” […]

Summary: “Wrongful termination” is a term many Connecticut employees use when they believe they’ve been unfairly fired or laid off. However, for a termination to be legally wrongful, there needs […]

The U.S. Supreme Court held in its 2020 opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County that the prohibition on sex discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 […]

SUMMARY: Working while pregnant comes with its challenges, but in Connecticut, you’re protected by state laws that offer strong support for pregnant women. You have the rights to continue working […]

Summary: The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job-protected leave for employees who are dealing with their own or a family member’s serious health condition. Imagine Jane Smith, a […]

March 2021 is here. It’s alarming to think that this month marks one year since Connecticut confirmed its first COVID-19 case, shut down its schools, and – most notably – […]

If you have been injured on the job while working for Metro North, Amtrak, the Long Island Railroad, PATH, or New Jersey Transit, you may be surprised to learn that […]

Office romance is a fact of life.  Just ask the millions of Americans who have watched Grey’s Anatomy over its 16-plus seasons.  As enticing as workplace romantic relationships might seem […]

“I’m afraid to request an accommodation under the ADA, because I’m afraid that my employer will treat me differently when it knows about my disability.” This is a common question […]

A performance improvement plan, commonly referred to as a PIP, is a tool employers use to give employees with performance deficiencies the opportunity to correct them. Unfortunately, though, some employers […]

Many people call us and say, “I was wrongfully terminated.” But what does that mean? And is it true? Was your termination wrongful? Think of wrongful termination like a big […]

Can employers assign mandatory overtime? For the most part, yes. Employers are allowed to make the ability to work overtime – even without notice – a condition of employment. There […]

How does the Supreme Court Case Bostock v. Clayton County impact employment law? In Bostock, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the language in Title VII of the Civil Rights […]

As our world continues to face this unprecedented health crisis and with the FDA’s recent approval of a vaccine, many Connecticut employees are wondering whether their employers can require them […]

As it appeared on the Employment Law Blog By Daniel Schwartz I had the opportunity to record another webcast recently with New Haven attorney Nina Pirrotti, who mainly represents employees in her […]

How does employment law protect employees? At its most basic level, employment law circumscribes the employment relationship. Or, put another way, it says what employers can and cannot do vis-à-vis […]

What is employment law? Generally speaking, “employment law” is the constellation of constitutions, statutes, regulations, and legal cases that governs the relationship between individual employees and their employers.  If you […]

As it appeared on the Employment Law Blog By Daniel Schwartz The last time that I spoke with Plaintiff’s attorney Nina Pirrotti, the pandemic was just beginning and we were […]

Many employers require their employees to sign non-compete agreements, either upon hiring or during the course of employment.  A non-compete agreement – for those who are unfamiliar – is a […]

For the last two months, our Connecticut communities have been shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic.  As of today (May 13), there have been 34,333 confirmed COVID-19 cases; there are 1,189 […]

Global emergencies have the potential to bring out the best and worst in people, and COVID-19 is no different.  While the pandemic has brought many people together in pursuit of […]

In October 2019, the State of Connecticut marked the effective date of its new Time’s Up Act – enacted in the summer of 2019 named for the national and global […]

Changes to Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act Effective January 1, 2022. Learn more. You may already understand when FMLA leave comes into play.  The federal Family and Medical Leave […]

COVID-19 is causing record numbers of Americans to apply for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Since March 23, over 504,000 people in Connecticut applied for UI benefits. In the last two […]

As it appeared on the Connecticut Employment Law Blog By Daniel Schwartz From time to time, I have a conversation on this blog (titled “The Dialogue”) with Nina Pirrotti, a […]

As an employee rights law firm, we frequently handle cases involving the negotiation of severance agreements. These documents can be long and tedious, and you are right to be concerned […]

You may find yourself in the midst of a lawsuit for an employment issue, criminal charge, or even personal injury. While you are concerned about your own well-being and rightfully […]

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, by 2024, nearly 1 in 4 people in the labor force will be age 55 or older. The median age of Baby Boomers, […]

As it appeared on The Connecticut Employment Law Blog By Daniel Schwartz It’s been far too long since our last installment from March 2019, but my ongoing dialogue with Nina Pirrotti, a prominent […]

Most people who come to our office seeking an employment lawyer have concerns about the actions of their employer.  These concerns involve issues that are wide-reaching: termination, harassment, demotion, discriminatory […]

In the last twenty years, reports of religious discrimination have more than doubled. While at least one survey finds the number of people experiencing bias because of their religious beliefs […]

If you are paid by the hour, your livelihood may, in part, be dependent on your overtime income. When it comes to overtime compensation, employers are required to follow both […]

As it appeared on The Connecticut Employment Law Blog By Daniel Schwartz Readers of the blog will no doubt know that it’s been far too long since I had Nina […]

Big Picture Perspective on a Difficult Situation In an ideal world, an employer will facilitate and support an employee’s ability to grow, thrive, and succeed at work. By performing well, […]

At Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, P.C., we have been advocating for workers for more than 40 years.  We are proud to have represented countless employees who have experienced workplace […]

The United States is home to more immigrants than any other country in the world.  In fact, more than 40 million immigrants live in the United States, nearly quadruple the […]

Since 2009, nearly half of all complaints filed with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission allege retaliation. What is retaliation, and why are 44% to 48% of alleged workplace […]

Non-compete agreements were originally intended to protect companies from losing market share or other private information if their executives took a job with a competitor. The idea is that company […]

The dawn of 2019 may be a good time to think about the milestones ahead.  For some women, one such milestone may be pregnancy.  Becoming pregnant may raise lots of […]

It is unfortunate, but true, that violations of the laws, regulations, and municipal ordinances occur in the workplace.  These violations could transpire in any number of ways: by a rogue […]

People commonly sign employment contracts to provide services without thinking critically about whether those contracts contain a non-compete clause. Employees hopefully know that they should be cautious about signing a […]

On the surface, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is straightforward. The federal law states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, […]

It is a common practice for employers to give handbooks to their new employees when they start work. But, as an employee, how often do you actually look at the […]

Consumers and employees often believe that mandatory arbitration clauses drag them into a forum they didn’t choose, to be heard before an arbitrator whose powers are virtually unreviewable, who will […]

One benefit of arbitration is that parties of equal bargaining power can provide for a method of settling disputes which is alternative to the court system.  A negotiated arbitration agreement, […]

I admit I was surprised to find that a person can agree to a written arbitration clause, even though he or she is illiterate. I was even more surprised to […]

Our previous blog posts, “10 Common Questions about Severance Agreements” and “10 (More) Common Questions about Severance Agreements,” have helped a number of people who are trying to negotiate their […]

“Payday loans” are a modern device intended to avoid interest rate regulations and financial disclosure laws.  So-called “salary lenders” who engage in these predatory loan arrangements concentrate on low-income families […]

I love the names companies use to label the mandatory arbitration programs they impose on their employees.  Today, we can enjoy the workings of the “Fairness in Action Program” used […]

The notice it takes to evaporate a jury trial right is minimal. Blind people, by not asking the right questions of an unscrupulous lender, “consented” to arbitration. Envelope stuffers announce […]

Medical marijuana has been legal in Connecticut for a number of years now, but if you are employed in the state and legally use medical marijuana, how does it affect […]

George Burns said it well. “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” That quote may ring true for many of Connecticut’s more mature employees. Your […]

A couple of years ago, National Public Radio, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health polled working adults concerning how their health impacts […]

Our previous blog post, “10 Common Questions about Severance Agreements,” seems to be attracting a lot of attention. But apparently, there are more than 10 frequently asked questions about severance […]

We often hear that addiction is no different from any other chronic illness, like diabetes or heart disease or cancer. That may be true in the real world, but in […]

The United States is known as the world’s “melting pot,” with people from every corner of the globe and every culture and background who call our country home. Not surprisingly, […]

Due to the ups and (specifically) downs of the U.S. economy over recent years, including the increasing outsourcing of manufacturing and other job sectors, a number of employers have downsized […]

Discrimination is an all-too-sad reality for many employees around the country, including here in Connecticut. Many people know that discrimination on the basis of race, skin color, religion, or gender […]

You’ve probably heard the term “hostile work environment,” but do you know what it means? Some people think it’s just an overbearing boss. But a boss does not create a […]

Federal and Connecticut law prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of a number of inherent characteristics or traits, including age, race, color, sex (or gender), physical or mental disability, national […]

It’s 2018. Women have been equal to men under U.S. and Connecticut employment laws for more than 50 years. And yet equality on paper still has not translated to equality […]

The law can be a mysterious field to many lay people, not least because of all the technical words we lawyers use — words like “jurisdiction,” “affidavit,” or “hearsay.”  This […]

The #MeToo movement has taken the nation by storm over the past few months, and Connecticut is no exception. As victims and survivors are courageously stepping out of the silence […]

If you find out that your employer has broken the law, you might feel obligated to report it. And if you do, you will become what is often called a […]

This text originally appeared on Connecticut Employment Law Blog By Daniel Schwartz on January 10th, 2018. After a break for the holidays, my long-running discussion with Nina Pirrotti, an employee-side […]

The increased awareness of sexual harassment and misconduct that swept the country in 2017 is an overwhelmingly positive development for Connecticut’s employees. However, if the #MeToo movement has a downside, […]

On behalf of all the attorneys and staff at Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, P.C., we wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season. […]

Across the country, most jobs require the employer to pay a set minimum hourly wage. In Connecticut, that minimum wage is $10.10 per hour worked, not including tax. However, the […]

Connecticut’s workers have watched in wonder over the past few months as employee after employee has come forward on the national stage to say that they were subjected to sexual […]

With the stunning news that Matt Lauer was fired from NBC’s Today morning television program earlier this week amid allegations of sexual misconduct brought forward by his former colleagues, it […]

In Connecticut, state and federal laws require workers to be properly paid for doing their job. Employers must pay overtime premiums, which is time and a half, to certain workers […]

Race relations remain a consistent discussion topic in our country. Certain types of discrimination, and where it happens, are not tolerated and against the law. Racial discrimination is one of […]

When we hear the term employment discrimination, our first thoughts may be a woman not getting paid the same amount as a male counterpart, or being treated adversely because of […]

This text originally appeared on Connecticut Employment Law Blog By Daniel Schwartz on October 5th , 2017 The Dialogue – an occasional online discussion between myself and a prominent employee-side […]

With more and more older employees staying in or returning to the workforce after their traditional “retirement age,” claims of age discrimination have steadily increased over the past 10 years. […]

Employers sometimes ask or even require new employees to sign non-competition (or non-compete) agreements as a condition of employment. Because these agreements typically continue in effect after the employment ends, […]

Just do a quick internet search and you can find many websites that discuss what you should do if you’re being sexually harassed at work. But what if you’re the […]

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 is a federal law that requires employers with a minimum number of employees to provide their employees unpaid leave for medical and […]

We all wish that discrimination on the basis of sex was a thing of the past.  Unfortunately, wishing doesn’t make it so, and Connecticut and our nation still have a […]

Being fired from your job is an extremely stressful experience. It is also a deeply unsettling and confusing one. Your mind is filled with questions: “What will happen to my […]

In the 2001 case of Circuit City Stores, Inc. v. Adams, the United States Supreme Court concluded that the federal law governing arbitration can be applied to employment contracts. The […]

If you believe you are being discriminated against or harassed at work because of your race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, or disability or are being retaliated against […]

If you just received a severance agreement from your employer (or think you soon might), this Employee Rights Blog post is for you. 1. Why is the agreement so long? […]

This text originally appeared on Connecticut Employment Law Blog By Daniel Schwartz on June 26th, 2017 The Dialogue, a online conversation between yours truly and a prominent employee-side attorney, Nina Pirrotti, […]

This text originally appeared on Connecticut Employment Law Blog By Daniel Schwartz on April 24th, 2017 The Dialogue — one of the more popular recurring posts — returns for the third […]

This text originally appeared on Connecticut Employment Law Blog By Daniel Schwartz on March 14th, 2017 If at first you succeed, try it again.  Well, that may not be how […]

This text originally appeared on the Connecticut Employment Law Blog By Daniel Schwartz on January 27th, 2017 I’ll confess. I’m excited about today’s post.  It’s hard to find something new […]