Connecticut General Statutes 31-51ss – Leave from employment for victims of family violence. Action for damages and reinstatement
(a) For the purposes of this section:
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 31-51ss
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Victim advocate: work with prosecutors and assist the victims of a crime.
(1) “Employer” means a person engaged in business who has three or more employees, including the state and any political subdivision of the state;
(2) “Employee” means any person engaged in service to an employer in the business of the employer;
(3) “Family violence” means family violence, as defined in § 46b-38a; and
(4) “Leave” includes paid or unpaid leave which may include, but is not limited to, compensatory time, vacation time, personal days off or other time off.
(b) If an employee is a victim of family violence, an employer shall permit the employee to take paid or unpaid leave during any calendar year in which such leave is reasonably necessary (1) to seek medical care or psychological or other counseling for physical or psychological injury or disability for the victim, (2) to obtain services from a victim services organization on behalf of the victim, (3) to relocate due to such family violence, or (4) to participate in any civil or criminal proceeding related to or resulting from such family violence. An employer may limit unpaid leave under this section to twelve days during any calendar year. Leave under this section shall not affect any other leave provided under state or federal law.
(c) If an employee’s need to use leave under this section is foreseeable, an employer may require advance notice, not to exceed seven days prior to the date such leave is to begin, of the intention to use such leave. If an employee’s need for such leave is not foreseeable, an employer may require an employee to give notice of such intention as soon as practicable.
(d) Upon an employer’s request, an employee who takes leave pursuant to this section shall provide the employer a signed written statement certifying that the leave is for a purpose authorized under this section. The employer may also, but need not, request that the employee provide a police or court record related to the family violence or a signed written statement that the employee is a victim of family violence, provided such statement is from an employee or agent of a victim services organization, an attorney, an employee of the Judicial Branch’s Office of Victim Services or the Office of the Victim Advocate, or a licensed medical professional or other licensed professional from whom the employee has sought assistance with respect to the family violence.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to (1) prevent employers from providing more leave than is required under this section, (2) diminish any rights provided to any employee under the terms of the employee’s employment or a collective bargaining agreement, or (3) preempt or override the terms of any collective bargaining agreement effective prior to October 1, 2010.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an employer to provide paid leave under this section if (1) the employee is not entitled to paid leave pursuant to the terms and conditions of the employee’s employment, or (2) such paid leave exceeds the maximum amount of leave due the employee during any calendar year, provided the employee shall be entitled to unpaid leave under this section if paid leave is exhausted or not provided.
(g) Any written statement or police or court record provided to an employer pursuant to subsection (d) of this section shall be maintained as confidential by the employer and shall not be further disclosed by the employer except as required by federal or state law or as necessary to protect the employee’s safety in the workplace, provided the employee is given notice prior to the disclosure.
(h) If an employer discharges, penalizes or threatens or otherwise coerces an employee in violation of this section, the employee, not later than one hundred eighty days from the occurrence of such action, may bring a civil action for damages and for an order requiring the employee’s reinstatement or otherwise rescinding such action. If the employee prevails, the employee shall be allowed a reasonable attorney’s fee to be fixed by the court.