(a) An employer shall not discharge, discipline, penalize or in any manner discriminate against any employee because the employee has filed a claim or instituted or caused to be instituted any investigation or proceeding under part III of chapter 557 or this chapter, or has testified or is about to testify in any such proceeding or because of the exercise by such employee on behalf of himself or others of any right afforded by part III of chapter 557 or this chapter.
(b) Any employee who believes that he has been discharged, disciplined, penalized or otherwise discriminated against by any person in violation of this section may file a complaint with the Labor Commissioner alleging violation of the provisions of subsection (a) of this section. Upon receipt of any such complaint, the commissioner shall hold a hearing. After the hearing, the commissioner shall send each party a written copy of his decision. The commissioner may award the employee all appropriate relief including rehiring or reinstatement to his previous job, payment of back wages and reestablishment of employee benefits to which he otherwise would have been eligible if he had not been discharged, disciplined, penalized or discriminated against. Any employee who prevails in such a complaint shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Any party aggrieved by the decision of the commissioner may appeal the decision to the Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(P.A. 93-392, S. 10; 93-435, S. 67.)
History: P.A. 93-435 made technical changes and deleted a provision prohibiting an employer from discharging, disciplining, penalizing in any manner or discriminating against any employee who institutes or testifies at a proceeding under part III of chapter 557 or chapter 558.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Section 31-58a. - Minimum wage for minors in government or agricultural employment.
Section 31-59. - Investigation.
Section 31-60. - Payment of less than minimum or overtime wage. Regulations.
Section 31-61 and 31-62. - Wage board. Report and regulations.
Section 31-63. - Orders and appeal.
Section 31-64 and 31-65. - Reconsideration of wage rates. Modification of orders.
Section 31-66. - Employers' records. Orders to be posted.
Section 31-67. - Exception for person with impaired capacity.
Section 31-68a. - Enforcement of chapter.
Section 31-68b. - Reciprocal agreements.
Section 31-69a. - Additional penalty.
Section 31-69b. - Discharge, discipline, penalty or discrimination prohibited. Right of action.
Section 31-70. - Withholding wages.
Section 31-71. - Weekly payment of wages; how paid when employment ends.
Section 31-71a. - Payment of wages: Definitions.
Section 31-71c. - Payment of wages on termination of employment.
Section 31-71d. - Payment where wages disputed.
Section 31-71e. - Withholding of part of wages.
Section 31-71f. - Employer to furnish employee certain information.
Section 31-71h. - Regulations.
Section 31-71i. - Waiver of payment schedule requirement.
Section 31-71j. - Automatic enrollment retirement plans.
Section 31-71k. - Payment of wages by payroll cards. Study of payroll card usage. Regulations.
Section 31-71l. - Domestic workers education and training grants program.
Section 31-72. - Civil action to collect wage claim, fringe benefit claim or arbitration award.
Section 31-73. - Refund of wages for furnishing employment.
Section 31-74. - Wages not to be scaled.
Section 31-74a. - Computation and payment of vacation pay.
Section 31-76b. - Overtime pay: Definitions.
Section 31-76c. - Length of workweek.
Section 31-76d. - Workweek for certain establishments.
Section 31-76e. - Maximum workweek under contract or collective bargaining agreement.
Section 31-76f. - Piece rates; two or more kinds of work.
Section 31-76g. - Crediting of certain extra compensation.
Section 31-76h. - Hospital employees.
Section 31-76j. - Prior wage orders and regulations.
Section 31-76k. - Payment of fringe benefits upon termination of employment.
Section 31-76l. - Regulations.
Section 31-76m. - Remission of portion of fine or civil penalty to municipality.
Section 31-76n. - Connecticut Low Wage Employer Advisory Board. Duties. Members. Report.
Section 31-76o. - Civil action to collect past due payments to employee welfare fund.