A Note from our President, Lynn Ward
Dear Chamber Member,

If you are a young professional or have some employees in your company who might benefit from networking with others, make sure to check out our Young Professionals of Waterbury Region Happy Hour tomorrow, August 10. The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the patio of the Texas Roadhouse in Waterbury.

Also this Thursday, our annual Chamber Member Business Directory featuring member business listings will be distributed to more than 30,000 households and businesses in the region. Each member will also be mailed a copy; it will also be posted on our website. Extra copies will also be available here at our offices on Bank Street.

I hope you will join us on Tuesday, August 15 at Aria for our Health Care Council's Annual 18th Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony. We will be honoring Dr. Steven Schneider, the Healthcare Regional Sector Partnership/Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, the Waterbury Health Cardiology Department, Kelly McDonald, Brooke Redmond, M.D.; and Karen Fasano. For more information, click here.

We hope to see you on Wednesday, August 23 at the Mattatuck Museum from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for our next Out for Business. You can register here.

Our 28th annual Waterbury Regional Chamber Golf Outing will be held on Monday, September 18 at The Golf Club at Oxford Greens. The day features 18 holes of golf, lunch, dinner, refreshments, a gift bag, networking, and much more! Register here.

Save the date for Wednesday, October 25, when we will host our Harold Webster Smith Awards and honoring a Small Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and Manufacturer of the Year. Recipients will be announced shortly.

For our Watertown Oakville Chamber members, this year's Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner will be held on Thursday, November 16 at Grand Oak Villa. The Southbury Chamber will hold its first Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Wyndham Southbury Hotel. Keep scrolling to see who our honorees are in Southbury.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!
You can reach me, as always, at (203) 757-0701 or lward@waterburychamber.com. Keep scrolling for this month’s updates and events to take full advantage of what our Chamber has to offer.

Thank you, more than ever, for your continued membership,
Lynn Signature
In This Issue:
  • President's Note
  • Welcome New Members
  • Upcoming Events
  • A Message from Newsletter Sponsor: Post University
  • HR Corner
  • Naugatuck Chamber
  • Watertown Oakville Chamber
  • Southbury Chamber News
  • Hiring and Training Programs Available
Welcome to Our Newest Members
A warm welcome to our newest members!* We encourage you to connect with them soon and see where your next partnership can be!
Join Us! - Upcoming Chamber Events
Young Professionals Happy Hour

Thursday, August 10
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Texas Roadhouse Outdoor Patio
330 Reidville Drive
Waterbury
Wake Up Your Business

Friday, August 11
8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Raymour & Flanigan
410 Reidville Drive
Waterbury
Health Care Council 18th Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony

Tuesday, August 15
7:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Aria Wedding & Banquet Facility
Prospect
Wake Up Your Business

Friday, August 18
8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Ion Bank Community Building
270 Church Street
Southbury
Out for Business

Wednesday, August 23
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Mattatuck Museum
144 West Main Street
Waterbury
Wake Up Your Business

Friday, August 25
8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Ion Bank Community Building
270 Church Street
Naugatuck
Waterbury Regional Chamber Open

Monday, September 18
Registration & lunch: 11 a.m.
Shotgun start @ noon

The Golf Club at Oxford Greens
99 Country Club Drive
Oxford
Message From Newsletter Sponsor: Post University
Tee It Up For Post University
The Post University Athletic Department Golf Tournament benefiting the University’s athletic programs will be held on Monday, September 25, 2023, at the Watertown Golf Club.

The tournament will be a scramble format with a shotgun start at NOON followed by dinner.

The cost is $200 per golfer or $800 per foursome. The price includes greens fees, cart, lunch and dinner, as well as a tee gift. Prizes will also be awarded for the longest drive, closest to the pin, and hole-in-one. 

If you are not a golfer, you can still support the cause by sponsoring a Hole $150. The registration form (below) has all the details.

All proceeds from the tournament will be used to enhance the student-athlete experience at Post University and support our 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs.
A variety of sponsorship opportunities are also available at multiple price levels. Those interested in getting more information on sponsorship or the tournament can contact Michael Brienza mbrienza@post.edu or Marc Kuntz mkuntz@post.edu.
HR Corner: That's a Wrap! Recent Legislative Session Yielded Some New Employment Laws
This HR Corner is brought to you by Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP. Written by Attorney Nick Zaino
This 2023 legislative session was quieter than in past years with many high-profile bills failing to pass. Still, employers should be aware of several significant bills that did pass and some that did not pass but are likely to be resurrected.

Significant Employment-Related Bills That Were Passed:

Expansion of Paid Sick Leave: Effective October 1, 2023, covered employees may use paid sick leave for a "mental health wellness day," which includes a day during which the employee attends to their emotional and psychological well-being. Employees may now also use sick leave if the employee is a parent or guardian of a child who is a victim and needs time off for medical care, psychological or other counseling for physical or psychological injury or disability, obtaining services from a victim services organization, relocating due to family violence or sexual assault, or participating in any civil or criminal proceedings related to or resulting from family violence or sexual assault.

Expanding Workers’ Compensation Coverage for Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries: Currently, eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) is limited to various first responders such as police officers, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, and emergency 9-1-1 dispatchers that are diagnosed with PTSI as a direct result of certain qualifying events (e.g., witnessing someone’s death, viewing a deceased minor) that occur in the line of duty. Effective January 1, 2024, the law will be expanded to allow all employees to be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits for PTSI if the same qualifying events occur in the line of duty.

Amendments to Connecticut's Existing Physician Non-Compete Law: Since 2016, Connecticut has restricted the use of non-compete agreements for physicians. Existing law provides, among other things, that a noncompete covenant for a physician cannot exceed one year and cannot cover a geographic area that is more than 15 miles from the “primary site where such physician practices.” Previously, “primary site” was defined as, "(A) the office, facility or location where a majority of the revenue derived from such physician's services is generated, or (B) any other office, facility or location where such physician practices and mutually agreed to by the parties and identified in the covenant not to compete." As of July 1, 2023, primary site now means "any single office, facility or location where such physician practices, as mutually agreed to by the parties and defined in the covenant not to compete." The new law also provides that, for group practices with 35 or more employees, a physician noncompete agreements entered into, amended, extended or renewed on or after October 1, 2023 will not be enforceable if: (A) the physician does not agree to a proposed material change to the compensation terms of such contract or agreement prior to or at the time of its extension or renewal, and (B) the contract or agreement expires and is not renewed by the employer or the employment or contractual relationship is terminated by the employer, unless such employment or contractual relationship is terminated by the employer for cause. Lastly, effective October 1, 2023, the statutory restrictions on noncompete agreements applicable to physicians also will apply to advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants.

Increased Penalties for Non-Compliance with MyCTSavings Program: Effective June 1, 2023, employers who fail to comply with the MyCTSavings Program will be subject to fines between $500 and $1,500. MyCTSavings requires employers with five or more employees in Connecticut — at least five of whom have been paid more than $5,000 in the calendar year —to join MyCTSavings if they don't offer a retirement plan for their employees. Eligible employees can then contribute to a Roth IRA through payroll deductions up to the statutory limit.

Striking Employees Eligible for Health Insurance: Effective October 1, 2023, a special enrollment period will allow employees whose health insurance coverage is terminated by an employer because of a labor dispute (e.g., a strike) to receive health insurance through Connecticut’s health insurance exchange.

Notable Bills That Did Not Pass: 
  • Significant Restrictions on the Use of Non-Compete Agreements—would have invalidated many non-compete agreements unless certain conditions were met.
  • Paid Sick Leave Law Expansion—would have expanded the sick leave law to cover all private employers, broadened the circumstances in which employees could use sick leave, and increased the rate of accrual and the amount of sick leave employees could accrue. 
  • One Minimum Wage—would have eliminated the subminimum wage.
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave—would have prohibited disability benefits from being reduced based on paid FMLI benefits that an employee receives.
  • Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers—would have allowed striking worked to collect unemployment compensation benefits.

This information is for educational purposes only to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. It does not constitute legal advice and does not establish any attorney-client relationship.
Naugatuck Chamber News
Join us on Friday, August 25 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for our free Wake Up Your Business event at the Ion Bank Community Building at 270 Church Street in Naugatuck. Get a chance to chat with other members, learn more about chamber membership, make new connections, and bring visibility to your business.
Southbury Chamber News
The Southbury Chamber has announced the recipients for the first-ever Southbury Chamber Awards, which will be presented at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting September 28, 2023, at the Wyndham Southbury. Business of the Year will be presented to Chatfield True Value; Community Leader of the Year will be presented to Dr. Jack Zazzaro; New Business of the Year to The Bevy Co.; and Unsung Hero to Brian Jones, for his service to the Southbury Volunteer Fire Department. Sponsorships are available.
Business of the Year: Chatfield True Value
New Business of the Year: The Bevy Co.
Community Leader of the Year: Dr. Jack Zazzaro
Unsung Hero: Brian Jones
Watertown Oakville Chamber News
Join us on Friday, September 1 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for our free Wake Up Your Business event at The Local Sixty-Three Bar & Restaurant at 465 Main Street. Get a chance to chat with other members, learn more about chamber membership, make new connections, and bring visibility to your business.
Hiring & Training Programs Available
Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board: Connecticut Workforce High tech Industries Partnership Grant (CTWHISP)/Incumbent Worker Training Program 

Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) is a type of work-based, employer-driven training for employees who need training to upgrade their skills to
  • secure full-time employment,
  • advance in their careers, or
  • retain their current employment in H-1B occupations and industries.

IWT is developed in collaboration with the employer. It requires long term planning and commitment on the part of the employer's CEO, CFO, HR, supervisors and employees.

The Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board (NRWIB) reimburses contracted training costs up to $2,000 per employee for IT training, and up to $3,000 per employee for manufacturing training. To get the proposal and contract process started please contact Jeffrey Chorches - chorches@careerresources.org.

The workforce board contracts with the employer to arrange the training. The employer chooses the job training course, the training provider, training schedule, and the employees who will participate. Employers are encouraged to backfill open positions that result from incumbent worker training with unemployed and underemployed individuals. One of the goals of U. S. Dept. of Labor Hl-b grants is to make U.S. employers less dependent upon non-citizens.