{"id":372147,"date":"2016-04-11T01:21:34","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:21:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/connecticut-law\/connecticut-wage-and-hour-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:50:12","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:50:12","slug":"connecticut-wage-and-hour-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/connecticut-law\/connecticut-wage-and-hour-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Connecticut Wage and Hour Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Connecticut Wage and Hour Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

The federal wage and hour laws are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act<\/a>. This federal act provides minimum standards for wage and hour laws<\/a> throughout in the United States. Individual states are allowed to pass their own laws as long as the state laws don’t dip below the federal minimum. For example, a state can only enact its own minimum wage law if the state requires employers to pay more than the FLSA requires.<\/p>\n

Connecticut has enacted its own wage and hour laws (title 31 chapter 558<\/a>), so employers within the state must comply with both the state and federal standards. The following chart highlights Connecticut’s minimum wage and overtime wage laws.<\/p>\n\n

Code Section <\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Connecticut General Statutes chapter 558<\/a>: Minimum Wage and Overtime Wage<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

What’s Prohibited? <\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Paying (or agreeing to pay) an employee less than the minimum wage or the overtime wage.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Connecticut’s Minimum Wage<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Non-exempt employees must be paid at least $8.70 per hour.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Connecticut’s Overtime Wage<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

A regular workweek in Connecticut consists of 40 hours. Employees that work more than 40 hours in a given week must be paid for the additional hours at a rate of at least 1-\u00bd half times the employee’s regular hourly wage.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Penalties<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

If the total amount of unpaid wages owed to an employee is:<\/p>\n

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  • More than $2,000<\/u>: Punishable by a fine of between $4,000 and $10,000 and\/or imprisonment for up to five years for each offense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    • Between $1,000 and $2,000<\/u>: Punishable by a fine of between $2,000 and $4,000 and\/or imprisonment for up to one year for each offense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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      • Between $500 and $1,000<\/u>: Punishable by a fine of between $1,000 and $2,000 and\/or imprisonment for up to six months for each offense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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        • $500 or less<\/u>: Punishable by a fine of between $400 and $1,000 and\/or imprisonment for up to three months for each offense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Violators may also be liable to pay civil penalties to the Labor Department.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Exempt Workers<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

The above provisions don’t apply to workers listed in Connecticut’s General Statutes section 31-76i<\/a>. Examples of exempt workers include: seamen, taxicab drivers, car salesmen, agricultural employees, police officers, and firemen.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

Record Keeping Requirements<\/h2>\n

Under Connecticut’s wage and hour laws every employer is required to keep accurate records about each employee’s wages for a three-year period. These records must contain the following information about the employee:<\/p>\n