Still recovering from last year’s difficult labor and employment mandates
HARTFORD Feb. 4, 2020 – As members of the Connecticut Senate and House return to the state capital this week, small businesses are on alert for any new legislation that would further increase their costs or mandates that would make it even harder to do business.
“Small business owners are still attempting to recover from two knockout punches in 2019—the $15 minimum wage law and the requirement that employees be allowed up to 12 weeks of paid leave,” said NFIB’s Connecticut State Director, Andrew Markowski. “If lawmakers introduce any additional restrictions that empty their pockets entirely, or tie their hands tighter behind their backs, they may forced to curtail their operations which wouldn’t be good for their employees, their customers, or our state’s economy as a whole.”
Tomorrow, Wednesday, February 5, Governor Ned Lamont will give his State of the State Address, lawmakers will gavel into session, and then new bills will begin to be filed.
“Any labor mandates that make it harder to hire employees, limit the ability to schedule workers, or hinder the flexibility required to get the daily business done, would further threaten the viability of small businesses,” added Markowski. “It’s important to remember that small businesses are more vulnerable to broad-brush government mandates and added costs, yet as a block, they are a significant economic force employing nearly half of the state’s workforce.”
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