Analysis and commentary
Polauf Law Blog
All opinions expressed here are my own and do not constitute legal advice.
Navigating Employee Leave: Responding to Leave Requests Under the FMLA
Connecticut employers' obligations when an employee requests FMLA leave: federal FMLA and CT FMLA eligibility differences, required employer notices and deadlines, concurrency with CT Paid Leave, and coordination with short-term disability benefits.
Wrongful Termination in an At-Will State: Stating a Cause of Action for Termination in Connecticut
Connecticut is an at-will employment state, but the at-will rule has limits. Public policy, implied contracts, union agreements, and statutory discrimination and retaliation claims can all support a cause of action for termination.
Blowing the Whistle: The Mechanics of Filing a Complaint Against an Employer
Where to file an employment complaint in Connecticut: CHRO, Superior Court, or federal court, compared on fees, exhaustion, remedies, and forum choice.
Your Employer Just Handed You a Severance Agreement. Read This First.
What Connecticut employees need to know before signing a severance agreement: what you are giving up, what cannot be waived, and when to say no.
Reasonable Diligence and AI: Four Practices That Do Not Require a New Rule
Practical standards for competent AI use in legal practice: tool selection, diligence, data protection, and verification under existing Model Rules.
Connecticut Wage Deductions: What Employers May Withhold, and How Front-Loaded Paid Sick Leave Fits In
Connecticut wage deductions are the exception, not the rule. This piece maps the five lawful paths under CGS § 31-71e, including front-loaded sick leave.
An Employment Law Reality Check: Connecticut Independent Contractor Misclassification
Misclassifying workers as contractors exposes Connecticut employers under the ABC test, FLSA economic-realities test, and IRS standards.
Frontloading CT Paid Sick Leave: Why It Still Matters (And What to Do If You Are Behind)
An updated look at why front-loading Connecticut paid sick leave still matters in 2025 and what employers who haven't yet adopted it should do now.
New Legislation Threatens to Dramatically Expand CFEPA Liability for Connecticut Employers
Pending Connecticut legislation could dramatically expand CFEPA liability for employers: here's what the proposed changes mean and how to prepare.
Why Employment Practices Liability Insurance Is a Bad Deal for Employers
Employment Practices Liability Insurance is widely misunderstood as a substitute for legal counsel. Here's why it's often a bad deal for employers.
Enemy of Innovation: The Shared (Destructive) Ideas of Antitrust and Employment Laws
Antitrust law and employment regulations share a common destructive trait: both suppress innovation under the guise of protecting competition and workers.
The Double Standard on Anti-Discrimination: Government Policy and Private Employment
A critical look at how anti-discrimination principles are applied inconsistently between government policy and private employment law obligations.
Illusory Disclaimers: Conventional Employee Handbook Clauses to Omit
Many standard employee handbook disclaimers are legally illusory, providing a false sense of security while creating new liability. Here's what to omit.
Employee Handbooks: An Investment, Not Just an Expense (And Mistakes and Misperceptions to Avoid in Developing One)
Employee handbooks are a strategic investment, not just a legal formality. This post covers common mistakes and misconceptions in developing them.
The HR Compliance Trap (Part 2): Why Employment Compliance Requires Attorneys, Not (Only) Administrators
Part 2: Why true employment compliance requires attorneys, not just HR administrators, and the risks businesses take by substituting one for the other.
The HR Compliance Trap: How the ABA Failed to Protect Businesses from Unauthorized Legal Practice
How the ABA's regulatory failures have left businesses exposed to unauthorized legal practice in the HR compliance space, and why it matters.
Front-Loading Sick Time: The Silver Lining for Employers in Connecticut’s New Paid Sick Leave Law
Connecticut's 2025 paid sick leave amendments create new burdens, but front-loading offers employers simplified administration and cost control.