HARTFORD, CT (April 24, 2024) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy association, released the following statement by State Director Andy Markowski in response to today’s vote in the state House to pass a costly and drastically expanded employer-paid leave mandate (House Bill 5005).

“Today’s disheartening vote makes plain that too many lawmakers in Hartford do not comprehend or care whether their actions add to the costs and administrative burdens the state places on Connecticut’s small businesses,” said Andy Markowski, NFIB State Director in Connecticut. “This expansion of mandated employer paid sick leave will add crushing costs to the state’s already overburdened small businesses during an onerous time for Connecticut’s Main Street economy. By their votes today, House members would expand Connecticut’s mandated employer-paid sick leave laws to all small businesses regardless of size or industry and expand the circumstances and relationships for which employees can take paid leave, among other significant changes.”

“Connecticut’s small business owners extend their thanks to those lawmakers who stood up for Main Street businesses today and remind others about the implications for small business as this gets phased in over the next couple of years,” said Markowski. “We hope that the Senate and Gov. Lamont will seriously consider the detrimental impacts of the House’s vote today as they act on this legislation.”

“Connecticut’s small business owners continue to face rising costs and labor shortages, all while still recovering from the shock and forced closures of the pandemic. This is not the time to impose yet another expensive, one-size-fits-all mandate that will take away their flexibility as an employer in a tough economic environment,” continued Markowski. “Small businesses need reasonable and predictable employment laws so they can plan, grow, hire, and create new jobs.”

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For 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses, and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.