CT Law Updates

Connecticut state employment discrimination law applies to employers with 3 or more employees. 

 

What are the protected classes in Connecticut?

 

They are:

 

This last category of Gender Identity or Expression was just recently added to the list of protected classes in CT.  This is important because it demonstrates the importance of HR conducting annual audits to update policies in employee handbooks to ensure compliance with any relevant changes in state or federal law.  The list of protected classes can and often does change as shown by the recent addition to the protected classes in Connecticut.  This recent addition to Connecticut state law will be effective October 1, 2011.

 

What is "Gender Identity or Expression"?  It is defined by Connecticut state law as "“gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person’s physiology or assigned sex at birth.”

 

Connecticut employers should be sure to revise their employment policies and employee handbooks to include this new protected class.