Connecticut · Paid Leave · Updated April 2026

CT PSL Phase 3 (2027): 1+ employee universal coverage.

Effective January 1, 2027, Connecticut Paid Sick Leave reaches universal coverage — every Connecticut employer with at least 1 employee must provide PSL. This is the final phase of the Public Act 24-8 (2024) expansion that began with 25+ employees in 2025 and 11+ in 2026. The 1+ threshold brings Connecticut into alignment with Minnesota and a handful of other states (Colorado, Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, New York City) that provide universal PSL coverage without employer-size carve-outs. Operators with small CT teams currently outside the 11+ threshold need to plan now for 2027 coverage.

Effective
January 1, 2027
Coverage Threshold
1+ employee
Authority
Public Act 24-8
Active

PSL Phase 3 Transition Planning

Surfaces Phase 3 transition for employers below 11-employee threshold. Models accrual, payroll cost, and policy administration for 2027 launch. Tracks Phase 3 readiness across operations.

Flag · January 1, 2027 universal coverage transition
Avoid · 2026 hiring patterns that delay Phase 3 readiness
Always running

What those rules do as 2027 approaches.

The hero card configuration: Flag on transition timeline, Avoid on patterns that delay readiness.

Flag · January 1, 2027 universal coverage transition

Effective January 1, 2027, every Connecticut employer with 1+ employees must provide PSL. Employers currently below the 11-employee threshold see the transition timeline in compliance previews. Accrual must begin January 1, 2027.

Avoid · classification patterns that delay Phase 3 readiness

Operators using independent contractor classifications, seasonal misclassification, or other patterns to avoid the 11-employee threshold are flagged. Phase 3 in 2027 will likely catch most patterns. Class action exposure under § 31-72 if Phase 3 coverage is denied via misclassification.

Skip the configuration

Deploy Connecticut PSL Phase 3 readiness in your Teambridge.

Tell us about your Connecticut workforce. We'll spin up Phase 3 (2027) transition planning, small-employer accrual readiness, notice and posting workflows, and 21 other Connecticut policies in a sandbox tenant.

Or book a 30-min walkthrough. We respond within 4 business hours.

The rule, plainly stated

Universal coverage, 1+ employees, all the same accrual and use-case rules.

Phase 3 doesn't change the accrual mechanics, use cases, or pay rate — only the coverage threshold. The same 1-per-30 accrual, 40-hour annual cap, no documentation, and minimum-wage-floor pay rate apply.

Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 31-57r through 31-57w, PA 24-8 § 7 — Phase 3: Beginning January 1, 2027, the requirements of sections 31-57r to 31-57w shall apply to every employer that employs one or more individuals in Connecticut, with limited exceptions for seasonal employees and certain construction trade union members.

Universal coverage at 1+ employees

Phase 3 brings Connecticut to universal PSL coverage. Every employer with 1+ employees must provide PSL accrual, regardless of size. Self-employed individuals remain excluded (since they're not employers in the relevant sense). The same exceptions apply: seasonal employees (120 days or less per year) and certain construction trade union members covered by multi-employer health plans.

Same accrual and use rules

Phase 3 doesn't change anything about how PSL works — only who's covered. The same rules apply: 1 hour per 30 worked accrual; 40 hours annual usage cap; pay at minimum wage floor or normal wage (whichever greater); no documentation requirements; same use cases (own/family illness, mental health, domestic violence, school closure for public health emergency).

On autopilot

Teambridge surfaces Phase 3 readiness across small-employer operations.

The 2027 transition is calendar-driven and certain. Small-employer operators need to be ready by January 1, 2027 — not on January 2.

01 · 1+ employee coverage check

Universal coverage as of 2027.

Effective January 1, 2027, every CT employer with 1+ employees is covered. Employer headcount no longer matters for PSL coverage.

02 · Accrual begins immediately

1-per-30 accrual from Day 1, 2027.

PSL accrual must begin January 1, 2027 for newly-covered small employers. No grace period — accrual starts immediately.

03 · Notice and posting requirements

Workers notified by Jan 1, 2027.

All workers at newly-covered employers must receive notice of PSL rights by January 1, 2027. CT DOL poster in English and Spanish must be posted.

04 · PFML coordination check

PSL + PFML at universal scale.

With PSL universal at 1+ employees in 2027 and PFML already at 1+ employees, both programs now apply equally broadly. Coordination workflows ensure most-favorable application.

Free · No commitment

Still evaluating? Get a free Connecticut compliance audit.

Send us your existing Connecticut scheduling and pay configuration. Our compliance team returns a written audit within 5 business days — every Connecticut-specific exposure ranked by risk and back-pay liability.

FAQ

People also ask.

When does Connecticut PSL reach universal coverage?
January 1, 2027 — Phase 3 of the Public Act 24-8 (2024) expansion. Every Connecticut employer with 1+ employees must provide PSL accrual starting that date.
Does Phase 3 change any other PSL rules?
No. Only the coverage threshold changes. The same accrual rate (1 per 30), annual cap (40 hours), use cases, no-documentation rule, and minimum-wage-floor pay rate apply. Phase 3 is purely a coverage expansion.
What do small employers need to do to prepare?
Update payroll systems to track PSL accrual; document a written PSL policy; prepare workers for the January 1, 2027 launch with notice; post the CT DOL PSL poster in English and Spanish; configure pay statements to show PSL balance and usage.
What about seasonal workers?
Seasonal workers (120 days or less per year) remain excluded from PSL coverage even after Phase 3. The narrow seasonal exception is one of the few carve-outs in the Phase 3 framework.
Can independent contractors be classified to avoid Phase 3?
Misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid PSL coverage is wage theft under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-72 — civil double damages and class action exposure. Connecticut uses an ABC test for IC classification, making this approach risky in CT.