- Registration for Connecticut’s family and medical leave program opens today
- A payroll deduction goes into effect on Jan. 1 to fund up to 12 weeks of leave for personal or family care
- The program is open to both companies and sole proprietors, and companies can apply for an exemption if they offer comparable benefits
The registration process for Connecticut’s new family and medical leave program opens today. Employers may register with the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority to prepare for payroll deductions that will begin at the start of 2021.
Under Connecticut’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA), which passed last year, workers may take up to 12 weeks off in a 12-month period for personal health reasons or to take care of a family member. The program applies to businesses with at least one employee, although they may also ask for an exemption if the company itself offers comparable benefits. Self-employed people and sole proprietors are also eligible to participate.
Beginning on Jan. 1, eligible employers will begin withholding 0.5 percent from employees’ paychecks as a PFMLA contribution. Benefits will become available on Jan. 1, 2022, but employees may begin submitting applications for leave beginning in late 2021.
The Connecticut Paid Leave Authority says registering is an important step in ensuring that payroll deductions are remitted and that employers receive information and resources about the program. Businesses must have a state identity at CT.gov in order to register.
The registration page on the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority website contains instructions for sole proprietors and self-employed workers, employers and company administrators, and third-party administrators. It also includes the process for applying for an exemption.
