In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont has signed into law HB 5005, a series of amendments to the state’s paid sick leave law. The amendments, including a recission of the exclusion of temporary employees from the state’s paid sick leave mandate, go into effect Jan 1. 2025.

In 2012, Connecticut became the first state to enact a statewide paid sick leave law. Various employees were explicitly excluded under the definition of “covered employee,” including temporary employees. Under the new law, the definition of “covered employee” has been amended to read “an individual engaged in service to an employer in the business of the employer,” which includes temporary employees.

Among other pertinent changes, the new law establishes the waiting period before an employee can use paid sick leave as the 120th calendar day of employment, an essential provision that significantly mitigates the burden on staffing agencies. The new law also exempts seasonal employees, defined as “an employee who works less than 120 days a year.” In addition, employers are no longer allowed to require documentation after three or more consecutive days of paid sick leave or require that employees give employers seven days’ notice for the foreseeable use of paid sick leave time.

As of Jan. 1, 2025, 18 states will have nonemergency paid leave laws in effect.