CT SB00658

Requires hotels, lodging houses, food service contractors, and building services enterprises with 15+ employees to recall COVID-19 pandemic-related laid-off workers in order of seniority when positions become available.

Applies to employees laid off between March 10, 2020 and May 1, 2022 due to lack of business or workforce reduction related to the COVID-19 pandemic, who had worked at least 6 months in the 12 months preceding March 10, 2020.

Employers must notify qualified laid-off employees of available positions within 5 days via written notice, email, or text message, and must offer positions to employees with greatest length of service; employees have at least 5 days to accept or decline.

Rehired employees must be offered substantially the same employment site, job classification, duties, compensation, benefits, and working conditions as before the layoff; those rehired must work at least 30 days unless just cause exists for termination.

Prohibits retaliation against employees seeking to enforce rights under this section; aggrieved employees may bring civil actions in Superior Court for reinstatement, back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorney's fees if the violation was malicious or reckless.