New Connecticut legislation has expanded the state’s “mini-COBRA law”.  Both large and small employers will be affected as the law extends the health continuation coverage from 18 months to 30 months.

Another new Connecticut law, effective October 1, 2010, entitles employees who are family violence victims to take leave from work.

The Connecticut Superior Court has ruled that both in-state and out-of-state employees are included in determining whether an organization must comply with the state FMLA [ Velez v. Mayfield].

Effective July 5, 2010, in accordance with a state indoor smoking ban, virtually all Wisconsin workplaces must be smoke free.  Wisconsin has become the latest state to address worker misclassification (i.e., incorrectly treating employees as independent contractors) with passage of SB 672 and Assembly Bill 929.  The new laws increase monitoring and penalties for such misclassifications.  The federal government and many states around the country are addressing the “independent contractor issue.”

Another new Wisconsin law (SB 585) prohibits discrimination against workers who decline to attend political or religious meetings held by their employers.

Nevada’s minimum wage is increasing on July 1, 2010.  Minimum wage for employers offering qualified health benefits to their employees will be $7.25 per hour (the current federal rate) and $8.25 for those not offering benefits.