Connecticut Considering Charging Fees to Employers Who Pay $15 or Less Hourly Wage

Employment Law

In a new variation of increasing the minimum wage, the Connecticut State Senate Labor Committee this week passed a bill that will charge for-profit companies with 500 or more employees a fee of $1 per hour for each worker paid an hourly wage of $15 or less.  Responding to complaints from committee Republicans that the law would reinforce Connecticut's anti-business reputation, Committee Co-Chairman Ed Gomes responded:  "We get this thing about we're being business unfriendly.  I think it's time to be employee friendly."  Republicans also complained about the money going to the state—generating about $300 million in annual revenue—with the employees "getting nothing out of this."