A Message from our Chairman
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Dear Chamber Member,
If you have not had a chance to check out one of the Naugatuck Chamber's Wake Up Your Business free networking events. you should start your morning off on Friday, August 25 at 8 a.m. at the Ion Bank Community Building at 270 Church Street. This networking session will take place in the fall on the third Friday of the month, starting in September, and the turnout has been a mix of both members and area business owners wanting to learn more about what the Chamber has to offer and talking about their companies. You can find out more information here.
The Chamber's Annual Business Directory was published today and distributed to the more than 30,000 subscribers of the Republican American. A copy of the directory will be sent to every business owner. If you need extra copies, reach out to the Chamber at 203-757-0701. You can also view the directory in an easy-to-read flipbook online here.
The Chamber's next Out for Business will take place on Wednesday, August 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Mattatuck Museum. It is great venue and the “ Matt” has had a great makeover. This is always a popular event: the refreshments are delicious and the roof top is a spot to enjoy. I hope to see you there! You can register here.
Do you know someone who might benefit from the Leadership Greater Waterbury program? Lifelong learners with five to 25 years of work experience who are interested in developing personally and their careers should consider this worthwhile program. Participants are exposed to the top business and civic leaders in the Greater Waterbury area. The program kicks off with a two-day orientation starting on October 19 and then meets once a month from November 2023 through June 2024. For more information, click here.
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Thank you for your continued membership,
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Kevin H. McSherry
McSherry Law Office
Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board
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- Chairman's Note
- Mayor Hess Visits Popeyes
- Upcoming Events
- Submit Your Content
- Upcoming Events
- Hiring & Training Programs Available
- HR Corner Corner by Carmody, Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP
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Mayor N. Warren "Pete" Hess Steps Behind the Counter at Popeyes on Rubber Avenue
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Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess III of Naugatuck, who loves Creole cooking and has been to Louisiana over 60 times, went into into the kitchen of the new Popeye’s on Rubber Avenue on the morning of August 9 to learn the secrets to their famous chicken, thanks to the assistance of the Naugatuck Chamber.
Alberto Cruz, VP of Operations for the franchisee was on hand to show Mayor Hess around the kitchen. The Mayor put on an apron, stepped behind the counter and into the kitchen, and learned the precise procedure for breading, frying, and preparing his spicy chicken sandwich.
From tapping the chicken breasts together twice before placing in the batter, to a hand toss technique of no less than 40 times to get the right coating ratio, the Mayor had some fun and learned the ins and outs of one of the Borough’s newest eateries. Once the chicken was cooked, it was prepared with the bun buttered and toasted and the fixings applied.
Mayor Hess brought his big personality to this fun experience while learning all about the culture behind the brand at Popeye’s.
After his sandwich was created, he sat down with Mr. Cruz and while he enjoyed the fruits of his labor, he learned all about the mission of Popeye’s. The owners are looking forward to getting involved in the community, including “adopting” a family at Thanksgiving and Christmas time to provide them with a family meal.
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Thank You to Our Members Who Renewed in July
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All About You Home Care Services
Grand Care Companions
J.W. Ford & Associates, Monument Services L.L.C.
Quiet Zone of Naugatuck
Stutsky Law, LLC
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August 25: Wake Up Your Business
8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Ion Bank Community Room
270 Church Street, Naugatuck
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Submit Your News and Social Media Content
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Do you have upcoming events, company news, specials, or other-related information you'd like the Chamber to promote in our August Chamber Member newsletter or on one of our many social media platforms? You can submit your content by emailing Communications Director David Huck. Leverage the Chamber and allow us to spread your message to thousands of individuals.
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August 15: Health Care Council Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony
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18th Annual Health Care Council Awards Ceremony
Wednesday, August 15
7:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Aria Wedding and Banquet Facility
45 Murphy Road, Prospect, CT
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August 23: Out for Business at the Mattatuck Museum
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Hiring & Training Programs Available
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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.
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HR Corner: That's a Wrap! Recent Legislative Session Yielded Some New Employment Laws
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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:
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Significant Restrictions on the Use of Non-Compete Agreements—would have invalidated many non-compete agreements unless certain conditions were met.
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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.
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One Minimum Wage—would have eliminated the subminimum wage.
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Paid Family and Medical Leave—would have prohibited disability benefits from being reduced based on paid FMLI benefits that an employee receives.
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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.
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