Connecticut Employment Law: Wages, Final Pay, Breaks and Your Rights at Work
Connecticut employment law: minimum wage, overtime, breaks, final paycheck deadlines, PTO payout, sick leave, at-will exceptions and where to file a wage claim.
Quick answers for Connecticut
- Minimum wage
- $16.94 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. The rate is adjusted every January 1 based on the federal employment cost index. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-58; Connecticut Department of Labor, Wage and Workplace Standards
- Final paycheck if fired or laid off
- By the next business day after the discharge. If the employee is laid off, by the next regular payday. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-71c(b)–(c)
- Meal and rest breaks
- Employees who work 7½ or more consecutive hours must get a meal break of at least 30 consecutive minutes, taken after the first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours of work. Some exemptions apply. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-51ii
- Unused vacation / PTO payout
- Only if the employer's policy or a collective bargaining agreement provides for payout of accrued vacation, holidays, sick days or other leave at termination. If it does, the employer must pay it as wages. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-76k
Last verified: 2026-10-26
Pay
| Minimum wage | $16.94 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. The rate is adjusted every January 1 based on the federal employment cost index. Scheduled increase: $17.48 per hour on January 1, 2027 (Governor's press release, Aug. 2026: https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/08-2026/governor-lamont-announces-minimum-wage-will-increase). |
|---|---|
| Tipped minimum wage | Hotel and restaurant workers who customarily receive tips (other than bartenders) must be paid at least $6.38 per hour in cash wages; bartenders must be paid at least $8.23 per hour. Tips must make up the rest of the full minimum wage. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-60(d) |
| Overtime | Time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek. No general daily overtime rule. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-76c |
| How often you must be paid | Weekly or every two weeks, on a regular payday set in advance. The pay period must end no more than 8 days before payday. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-71b |
| Pay stubs | Required with each wage payment (in writing, or electronically with the employee's consent): hours worked, gross earnings with straight time and overtime shown separately, itemized deductions, and net earnings. Hours and the straight-time/overtime split are not required for exempt employees. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-13a |
Breaks and leave
| Meal and rest breaks | Employees who work 7½ or more consecutive hours must get a meal break of at least 30 consecutive minutes, taken after the first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours of work. Some exemptions apply. No rest break requirement for adults. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-51ii |
|---|---|
| Paid sick leave | Yes, being phased in by employer size: employers with 25 or more employees since January 1, 2025; 11 or more since January 1, 2026; and all employers with 1 or more employees starting January 1, 2027. Employees earn 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year, and may carry over up to 40 unused hours. Scheduled change: coverage expands to employers with 1 or more employees in Connecticut on January 1, 2027. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-57s |
Leaving a job
| Final paycheck if fired or laid off | By the next business day after the discharge. If the employee is laid off, by the next regular payday. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-71c(b)–(c) |
|---|---|
| Final paycheck if you quit | By the next regular payday, through regular payment channels or by mail. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-71c(a) |
| Unused vacation / PTO payout | Only if the employer's policy or a collective bargaining agreement provides for payout of accrued vacation, holidays, sick days or other leave at termination. If it does, the employer must pay it as wages. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-76k |
| Unemployment benefits | File a claim with the Connecticut Department of Labor online through ReEmployCT, which is available 24/7 except during maintenance. File weekly certifications through the same system. |
Firing, retaliation and discrimination
| Whistleblower and retaliation protection | Employers may not discharge, discipline or penalize an employee for reporting a suspected violation of state, federal or local law to a public body, for taking part in a public body's investigation or a court action, or for reporting suspected child abuse. After using available administrative remedies, the employee may sue within 90 days. Connecticut law also protects employees' free-speech rights and their right to refuse employer meetings on political or religious matters. |
|---|---|
| Job discrimination complaints | Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). State law covers employers with one or more employees. A complaint about discrimination that happened on or after October 1, 2021 must be filed within 300 days. CHRO complaint information: https://portal.ct.gov/chro |
Where to get help in Connecticut
Employment Law FAQ
What is the minimum wage in Connecticut?
$16.94 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. The rate is adjusted every January 1 based on the federal employment cost index.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Connecticut?
Hotel and restaurant workers who customarily receive tips (other than bartenders) must be paid at least $6.38 per hour in cash wages; bartenders must be paid at least $8.23 per hour. Tips must make up the rest of the full minimum wage.
What are the overtime rules in Connecticut?
Time-and-a-half after 40 hours in a workweek. No general daily overtime rule.
Are breaks required by law in Connecticut?
Employees who work 7½ or more consecutive hours must get a meal break of at least 30 consecutive minutes, taken after the first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours of work. Some exemptions apply. No rest break requirement for adults.
When do I get my final paycheck if I'm fired in Connecticut?
By the next business day after the discharge. If the employee is laid off, by the next regular payday.
When do I get my final paycheck if I quit in Connecticut?
By the next regular payday, through regular payment channels or by mail.
Does an employer have to pay out unused PTO in Connecticut?
Only if the employer's policy or a collective bargaining agreement provides for payout of accrued vacation, holidays, sick days or other leave at termination. If it does, the employer must pay it as wages.
How often must employees be paid in Connecticut?
Weekly or every two weeks, on a regular payday set in advance. The pay period must end no more than 8 days before payday.
Do employers have to give pay stubs in Connecticut?
Required with each wage payment (in writing, or electronically with the employee's consent): hours worked, gross earnings with straight time and overtime shown separately, itemized deductions, and net earnings. Hours and the straight-time/overtime split are not required for exempt employees.
Is paid sick leave required in Connecticut?
Yes, being phased in by employer size: employers with 25 or more employees since January 1, 2025; 11 or more since January 1, 2026; and all employers with 1 or more employees starting January 1, 2027. Employees earn 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year, and may carry over up to 40 unused hours.
Is it illegal to fire someone for reporting a violation in Connecticut?
Employers may not discharge, discipline or penalize an employee for reporting a suspected violation of state, federal or local law to a public body, for taking part in a public body's investigation or a court action, or for reporting suspected child abuse. After using available administrative remedies, the employee may sue within 90 days. Connecticut law also protects employees' free-speech rights and their right to refuse employer meetings on political or religious matters.
Where do I file a job discrimination complaint in Connecticut?
Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). State law covers employers with one or more employees. A complaint about discrimination that happened on or after October 1, 2021 must be filed within 300 days.
How do I apply for unemployment in Connecticut?
File a claim with the Connecticut Department of Labor online through ReEmployCT, which is available 24/7 except during maintenance. File weekly certifications through the same system.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.