What is my roll as the employee?
As a covered employee in the State of Connecticut, the Connecticut Paid Leave (CTPL) program presents the opportunity for you to take time to take care of yourself and your family’s health needs without worrying about lost income while you are away from work.
The Connecticut Paid Leave (CTPL) program covers all employers with one or more employees and is accessible to all employees who have met certain earned-wage thresholds. Those who are self-employed or are sole proprietors are eligible to opt-in to the program.
Covered employees in Connecticut are eligible for benefits under the PFMLA if they have earned wages of at least $2,325 in the highest quarter of the first four of the five most recently completed quarters and are currently employed, or have been employed within the last 12 weeks, or are self-employed, a sole proprietor and a Connecticut resident enrolled in the program.
Wages may include salary or hourly pay, vacation pay, holiday pay, tips, commissions, severance pay and the cash value of any “in-kind” payments.
If you are an employee who is eligible for the CTPL program and you are experiencing one of the qualifying reasons for leave, you are entitled to up to twelve (12) weeks of paid leave benefits. In the event you experience a serious health condition resulting in incapacitation that occurs during a pregnancy, you may qualify for an additional two (2) weeks of paid leave benefits under the CTPL program.
Paid leave benefits may be received for time off taken as consecutive days and weeks, but may also be received for time off taken intermittently in certain circumstances.
As a covered employee, your benefit rate will be calculated in the following ways:
• If your wages are less than or equal to the Connecticut minimum wage multiplied by 40, your weekly benefit rate under the PFMLA will be 95% of your average weekly wage.
• Note: 40 times the minimum wage will be equal to $520 weekly in January 2022, increasing to $560 on July 1, 2022, and $600 on June 1, 2023.
• If your wages exceed the Connecticut minimum wage multiplied by 40, your weekly benefit rate will be 95% of the Connecticut minimum wage multiplied by 40 plus 60% of the amount your average weekly wage exceeds the Connecticut minimum wage multiplied by 40. The benefit rate is capped at 60 times the Connecticut minimum wage.
• Note: 60 times the minimum wage will be equal to $780 weekly in January 2022, increasing to $840 on July 1, 2022, and $900 on June 1, 2023.
The PFMLA stipulates benefit rates may be reduced if revenue is insufficient.