• Absence Specifications

Covered Employers: Employers with 3 or more employees

Employee Eligibility: All employees who are a victim of family violence

Entitlement: 12 days in a calendar year to:

• Seek medical attention or psychological or other counseling for physical or psychological injury or disability for injuries caused by family violence

• Obtain services from a victim services organization

• Participate in any civil or criminal proceeding related to or resulting from family violence

• Relocate due to family violence

Definition of Family Violence:
An incident can be considered "family" violence even if you are not married or related by blood. This law covers violence between:

• People who are married to each other

• People who used to be married and are now divorced

• Boyfriends/girlfriends who are dating

• Boyfriend/girlfriends who recently broke up

• People who have a child together, even if they have never lived together

• Parents and children

• Two people who are related by blood or by marriage

• People who live together or who used to live together

Violence Means:

• You have been physically hurt or attacked

• You have been threatened and have good reason to be afraid that the person who threatened you will hurt you

• Arguing, name-calling and mental abuse are not family violence unless you are also in danger of being physically hurt

Employer Notice: Not specified

Employee Notice: If the need for leave is foreseeable the employer may require 7 days advance notice. Advance notice is not required where it is not feasible; however, an employer may require employees to provide notice as soon as practicable. (Note: t he Absence product does not have an automated way of identifying whether enough notice was given, because it is impossible to identify in the system whether the employee could foresee their need for leave, and if so, when they knew they would need leave.)

Certification Supporting Need for Leave: A signed written statement may be required by the employer to certify the need for leave is required. Other supporting documents may be required such as a police report or court document if they exist.

Paid: Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an employer to provide paid leave under this section if the employee is not entitled to paid leave pursuant to the terms and conditions of the employee's employment, or such paid leave exceeds the maximum amount of leave due the employee during any calendar year, provided the employee shall be entitled to unpaid leave under this section if paid leave is exhausted or not provided.

Benefits: Not specified

Reinstatement: Not specified, but an employer is prohibited from discharging, penalizing, or threatening or otherwise coercing an employee in violation of the statute.

Relationship with Other Leave: The employee may be permitted to use Connecticut Paid Sick Leave for absences covered by both statutes. (Note: the Absence product does not include Connecticut Paid Sick Leave.) Effective January 1, 2022, an employee may use Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits to receive compensation during an absence due to family violence.