Connecticut wage payment law is located in the following sections of the General Statutes of Connecticut.

• 31-71a. Payment of wages: Definitions.
• 31-71b. Weekly payment of wages. Exemptions.
• 31-71c. Payment of wages on termination of employment.
• 31-71i. Waiver of weekly payment requirement.
• 31-75. Discrimination in compensation on account of sex.

(a) Any employer who pays or agrees to pay to an employee less than the minimum fair wage or overtime wage shallbe deemed in violation of the provisions of this part.

(b) The Labor Commissioner shall adopt such regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, as maybe appropriate to carry out the purposes of this part. Such regulations may include, but are not limited to, regulationsdefining and governing an executive, administrative or professional employee and outside salesperson; learnersand apprentices, their number, proportion and length of service; piece rates in relation to time rates; and shallrecognize, as part of the minimum fair wage, gratuities in an amount equal to twenty-three per cent of the minimumfair wage per hour for persons employed in the hotel and restaurant industry, including a hotel restaurant, andnot to exceed thirty-five cents per hour in any other industry, and shall also recognize deductions and allowancesfor the value of board, in the amount of eighty-five cents for a full meal and forty-five cents for a light meal,lodging, apparel or other items or services supplied by the employer; and other special conditions or circumstanceswhich may be usual in a particular employer-employee relationship. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection,for the period commencing January 1, 2002, and ending December 31, 2004, such regulations shall recognize, as partof the minimum fair wage, gratuities in an amount equal to (1) twenty-nine and three-tenths per cent of the minimumfair wage per hour for persons employed in the hotel and restaurant industry, including a hotel restaurant, whocustomarily and regularly receive gratuities, and (2) eight and two-tenths per cent of the minimum fair wage perhour for persons employed as bartenders who customarily and regularly receive gratuities. The commissioner mayprovide, in such regulations, modifications of the minimum fair wage herein established for learners and apprentices;persons under the age of eighteen years; and for such special cases or classes of cases as the commissioner findsappropriate to prevent curtailment of employment opportunities, avoid undue hardship and safeguard the minimumfair wage herein established. Regulations in effect on July 1, 1973, providing for a board deduction and allowancein an amount differing from that provided in this section shall be construed to be amended consistent with thissection without the necessity of convening a wage board or amending said regulations.

(c) Regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (b) of this section which define executive,administrative and professional employees shall be updated not later than October 1, 2000, and every four yearsthereafter, to specify that such persons shall be compensated on a salary basis at a rate determined by the LaborCommissioner.

31-66. Employers' records.

Each employer subject to the provisions of this part, unless exempted by regulation issued by the commissioneror as hereinafter provided, shall keep at the place of employment for a period of three years a true and accuraterecord of the hours worked by, and the wages paid by him to, each employee, as required by the applicable regulationsissued by the labor commissioner, and shall furnish to the commissioner or his authorized representative, upondemand, a sworn statement of the same provided if the place of employment is designed primarily as an establishmentfor the housing and use of coin-operated service or vending machines, such records may be kept by the employerin some location approved by the commissioner other than at the place of employment. Such records shall be opento inspection by the commissioner or his authorized representative at any reasonable time. Each employer subjectto this part or to a minimum fair wage order shall keep a copy of such order and the regulations issued by thelabor commissioner posed at the place of employment where it can be read easily by the employees. Employers shallbe furnished copies of orders and regulations on request, without charge.

31-67. Exception for person with impaired capacity.

The commissioner may cause to be issued, to any person whose earning capacity is impaired by age or physicalor mental deficiency or injury, a special license authorizing employment at such wages less than the minimum fairwage and for such period of time as is fixed by the commissioner and stated in the license.

31-68. Collection of minimum or overtime wage.

(a) If any employee is paid by his employer less than the minimum fair wage or overtime wage to which he isentitled under sections 31-58, 31-59 and 31-60 or by virtue of a minimum fair wage order he may recover, in a civilaction, twice the full amount of such minimum wage less any amount actually paid to him by the employer, with costsand such reasonable attorney's fees as may be allowed by the court, and any agreement between him and his employerto work for less than such minimum fair wage or overtime wage shall be no defense to such action. The commissionermay collect the full amount of unpaid minimum fair wages or unpaid overtime wages to which an employee is entitledunder said sections or order, as well as interest calculated in accordance with the provisions of section 31-265from the date the wages should have been received, had they been paid in a timely manner. In addition, the commissionermay bring any legal action necessary to recover twice the full amount of the unpaid minimum fair wages or unpaidovertime wages to which the employee is entitled under said sections or under an order, and the employer shallbe required to pay the costs and such reasonable attorney's fees as may be allowed by the court. The commissionershall distribute any wages or interest collected pursuant to this section to the employee or in accordance withthe provisions of subsection (b) of this section.

(b) All wages collected by the commissioner for an employee whose whereabouts are unknown to the commissioner shallbe held by the commissioner for three months and thereafter the commissioner may, in his discretion, pay the same,on application, to the husband or wife or, if none, to the next of kin of such employee. As a condition of suchpayment, the commissioner or his authorized representative shall require proof of the relationship of the claimantand the execution of a bond of indemnity and a receipt for such payment. Any such wages held by the commissionerfor two years without being claimed shall escheat to the state, subject to the provisions of sections 3-66a to3-71a, inclusive.

31-69. Penalty for violations.

(a) Any employer or his agent, or the officer or agent of any corporation, who discharges or in any other mannerdiscriminates against any employee because such employee has served or is about to serve on a wage board or hastestified or is about to testify before any wage board or in any other investigation or proceeding under or relatedto this part, or because such employer believes that such employee may serve on any wage board or may testify beforeany wage board or in any investigation or proceeding under this part, shall be fined not less than one hundreddollars nor more than four hundred dollars.

(b) Any employer or the officer or agent of any corporation who pays or agrees to pay to any employee less thanthe rates applicable to such employee under the provisions of this part or a minimum fair wage order shall be:(1) Fined not less than four thousand nor more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five yearsor both for each offense if the total amount of all unpaid wages owed to an employee is more than two thousanddollars; (2) fined not less than two thousand nor more than four thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than oneyear or both for each offense if the total amount of all unpaid wages owed to an employee is more than one thousanddollars but not more than two thousand dollars; (3) fined not less than one thousand nor more than two thousanddollars or imprisoned not more than six months or both for each offense if the total amount of all unpaid wagesowed to an employee is more than five hundred but not more than one thousand dollars; or (4) fined not less thanfour hundred nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than three months or both for each offenseif the total amount of all unpaid wages owed to an employee is five hundred dollars or less.

(c) Any employer, his officer or agent, or the officer or agent of any corporation, firm or partnership, who failsto keep the records required under this part or by regulation made in accordance with this part or to furnish suchrecords to the commissioner or any authorized representative of the commissioner, upon request, or who refusesto admit the commissioner or his authorized representative to his place of employment or who hinders or delaysthe commissioner or his authorized representative in the performance of his duties in the enforcement of this partshall be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, and each day of such failure to keepthe records required under this part or to furnish the same to the commissioner or any authorized representativeof the commissioner shall constitute a separate offense, and each day of refusal to admit or of hindering or delayingthe commissioner or his authorized representative shall constitute a separate offense.

(d) Nothing in this part shall be deemed to interfere with, impede or in any way diminish the right of employeesto bargain collectively with their employers through representatives of their own choosing in order to establishwages or conditions of work in excess of the applicable minimum under this part.

31-69a. Wage violations; Civil penalties.

In addition to the penalties provided in chapter 557, this chapter and chapter 568, any employer, officer, agentor other person who violates any provision of chapter 557, this chapter or subsection (g) of section 31-288, shallbe liable to the Labor Department for a civil penalty of three hundred dollars for each violation of said chaptersand for each violation of subsection (g) of section 31-288. The Attorney General, upon complaint of the Labor Commissioner,shall institute a civil action to recover such civil penalty. Any amount recovered shall be deposited in the GeneralFund and credited to a separate nonlapsing appropriation to the Labor Department, for other current expenses, andmay be used by the Labor Department to enforce the provisions of chapter 557, this chapter and subsection (g) ofsection 31-288 and to implement the provisions of section 31-4, as amended by this act.

31-69b. Discharge, discipline, penalty or discrimination prohibited; Right of action.

(a) An employer shall not discharge, discipline, penalize or in any manner discriminate against any employeebecause the employee has filed a claim or instituted or caused to be instituted any investigation or proceedingunder part III of chapter 557 or this chapter, or has testified or is about to testify in any such proceeding orbecause of the exercise by such employee on behalf of himself or others of any right afforded by part III of chapter557 or this chapter.

(b) Any employee who believes that he has been discharged, disciplined, penalized or otherwise discriminated againstby any person in violation of this section may file a complaint with the labor commissioner alleging violationof the provisions of subsection (a) of this section. Upon receipt of any such complaint, the commissioner shallhold a hearing. After the hearing, the commissioner shall send each party a written copy of his decision. The commissionermay award the employee all appropriate relief including rehiring or reinstatement to his previous job, paymentof back wages and reestablishment of employee benefits to which he otherwise would have been eligible if he hadnot been discharged, disciplined, penalized or discriminated against. Any employee who prevails in such a complaintshall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Any party aggrieved by the decision of the commissionermay appeal the decision to the superior court in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.

31-70. Withholding wages.

Any person who or corporation which withholds any part of the wages of any person, because of any agreementexpressed or implied requiring notice before leaving the employment, shall be fined not more than fifty dollars.

31-71a. Payment of wages: Definitions. Whenever used in sections 31-71a to 31-71i, inclusive:

(1) "Employer" includes any individual, partnership, association, joint stock company, trust, corporation,the administrator or executor of the estate of a deceased person, the conservator of the estate of an incompetent,or the receiver, trustee, successor or assignee of any of the same, employing any person, including the state andany political subdivision thereof;

(2) "Employee" includes any person suffered or permitted to work by an employer;

(3) "Wages" means compensation for labor or services rendered by an employee, whether the amount is determinedon a time, task, piece, commission or other basis of calculation;

(4) "Commissioner" means the Labor Commissioner.

Sec. 31-71b. Weekly payment of wages. Exemptions.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 12-34b, each employer, by himself, his agent or representative,shall pay weekly all moneys due each employee on a regular pay day, designated in advance by the employer, in cash,by negotiable checks or, upon an employee's written request, by credit to such employee's account in any bank whichhas agreed with the employer to accept such wage deposits.

(b) The end of the pay period for which payment is made on a regular pay day shall be not more than eight daysbefore such regular pay day, provided, if such regular pay day falls on a nonwork day, payment shall be made onthe preceding work day.

(c) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a local or regional board of education and a recognized orcertified exclusive bargaining representative of its certified employees from including within their collectivebargaining agreement a schedule for the payment of wages to certified employees that differs from the requirementsof subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to employees swapping workdays or shifts as permitted undera collective bargaining agreement.

31-71c. Payment of wages on termination of employment.

(a) Whenever an employee voluntarily terminates his employment, the employer shall pay the employee's wagesin full not later than the next regular pay day, as designated under section 31- 71b, either through the regularpayment channels or by mail.

(b) Whenever an employer discharges an employee, the employer shall pay the employee's wages in full not laterthan the business day next succeeding the date of such discharge.

(c) When work of any employee is suspended as a result of a labor dispute, or when an employee for any reason islaid off, the employer shall pay in full to such employee the wages earned by him not later than the next regularpay day, as designated under section 31-71b.

31-71d. Payment where wages disputed.

(a) In case of a dispute over the amount of wages, the employer shall pay, without condition and within thetime set by sections 31-71a to 31-71i, inclusive, all wages, or parts thereof, conceded by him to be due, and theemployee shall have all remedies provided by law, including those under said sections as to recovery of any balanceclaimed.

(b) The acceptance by any employee of a payment under this section shall not constitute a release as to the balanceof his claim and any release required by an employer as a condition to payment shall be void.

31-71e. Withholding of part of wages.

No employer may withhold or divert any portion of an employee's wages unless (1) the employer is required orempowered to do so by state or federal law, or (2) the employer has written authorization from the employee fordeductions on a form approved by the commissioner, or (3) the deductions are authorized by the employee, in writing,for medical, surgical or hospital care or service, without financial benefit to the employer and recorded in theemployer's wage record book.

31-71f. Employer to furnish employee certain information.

Each employer shall: (1) Advise his employees in writing, at the time of hiring, of the rate of remuneration,hours of employment and wage payment schedules, and (2) make available to his employees, either in writing or througha posted notice maintained in a place accessible to his employees, any employment practices and policies or changetherein with regard to wages, vacation pay, sick leave, health and welfare benefits and comparable matters.

31-71g. Penalty.
Any employer or any officer or agent of an employer or any other person authorized by an employer to pay wageswho violates any provision of this part may be:

(1) Fined not less than two thousand nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five yearsor both for each offense if the total amount of all unpaid wages owed to an employee is more than two thousanddollars;

(2) fined not less than one thousand nor more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year orboth for each offense if the total amount of all unpaid wages owed to an employee is more than one thousand dollarsbut not more than two thousand dollars;

(3) fined not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six monthsor both for each offense if the total amount of all unpaid wages owed to an employee is more than five hundredbut not more than one thousand dollars; or

(4) fined not less than two hundred nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three monthsor both for each offense if the total amount of all unpaid wages owed to an employee is five hundred dollars orless.

31-71h. Regulations.

The commissioner is authorized to issue regulations for the establishment of procedures for carrying out theprovisions of sections 31-71a to 31-71i, inclusive.

31-71i. Waiver of weekly payment requirement.

The commissioner may, upon application, waive the provisions of section 31-71b with respect to any particularweek or weeks, and may also, upon application, permit any employer, subject to the provisions of this section,to establish regular pay days less frequently than weekly, provided each employee affected shall be paid in fullat least once in each calendar month on a regularly established schedule.

31-72. Civil action to collect wage claim, fringe benefit claim or arbitration award.

When any employer fails to pay an employee wages in accordance with the provisions of sections 31-71a to 31-71i,inclusive, or fails to compensate an employee in accordance with section 31-76k or where an employee or a labororganization representing an employee institutes an action to enforce an arbitration award which requires an employerto make an employee whole or to make payments to an employee welfare fund, such employee or labor organizationmay recover, in a civil action, twice the full amount of such wages, with costs and such reasonable attorney'sfees as may be allowed by the court, and any agreement between him and his employer for payment of wages otherthan as specified in said sections shall be no defense to such action. The Labor Commissioner may collect the fullamount of any such unpaid wages, payments due to an employee welfare fund or such arbitration award, as well asinterest calculated in accordance with the provisions of section 31-265 from the date the wages or payment shouldhave been received, had payment been made in a timely manner. In addition, the Labor Commissioner may bring anylegal action necessary to recover twice the full amount of unpaid wages, payments due to an employee welfare fundor arbitration award, and the employer shall be required to pay the costs and such reasonable attorney's fees asmay be allowed by the court. The commissioner shall distribute any wages, arbitration awards or payments due toan employee welfare fund collected pursuant to this section to the appropriate person.

31-73. Refund of wages for furnishing employment.

(a) When used in this section, "refund of wages" means: (1) The return by an employee to his employeror to any agent of his employer of any sum of money actually paid or owed to the employee in return for servicesperformed or (2) payment by the employer or his agent to an employee of wages at a rate less than that agreed toby the employee or by any authorized person or organization legally acting on his behalf.

(b) No employer, contractor, subcontractor, foreman, superintendent or supervisor of labor, acting by himself orby his agent, shall, directly or indirectly, demand, request, receive or exact any refund of wages, fee, sum ofmoney or contribution from any person, or deduct any part of the wages agreed to be paid, upon the representationor the understanding that such refund of wages, fee, sum of money, contribution or deduction is necessary to secureemployment or continue in employment. No such person shall require, request or demand that any person agree tomake payment of any refund of wages, fee, contribution or deduction from wages in order to obtain employment orcontinue in employment. A payment to any person of a smaller amount of wages than the wage set forth in any writtenwage agreement or the repayment of any part of any wages received, if such repayment is not made in the paymentof a debt evidenced by an instrument in writing, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any deductions from wages made in accordance with the provisionsof any law, or of any rule or regulation made by any governmental agency.

(d) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisonednot more than thirty days for the first offense, and, for each subsequent offense, shall be fined not more thanfive hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months or both.

31-74. Wages not to be scaled.

No employer of labor or any person acting for him shall make a discount or deduction from the wages of any personemployed by him, when the wages of the employee or any part thereof are paid at an earlier time than that at whichsuch wages would regularly have been paid. Any person violating any provision of this section shall be fined notmore than one hundred dollars.

31-74a. Computation and payment of vacation pay.

Whenever an employee is eligible to receive both vacation pay and his regular wage payment on the same pay day,his employer shall compute federal social security and withholding taxes from the regular wage payment and thevacation pay separately.

31-75. Discrimination in compensation on account of sex.

No employer shall discriminate in the amount of compensation paid to any employee solely on the basis of sex.Any difference in pay based on sex shall be deemed a discrimination within the meaning of this section, providednothing herein shall be deemed to prevent the operation of employment practices which recognize length of serviceor merit rating as a factor in determining wage or salary rates.

31-76. Enforcement.

The Labor Commissioner shall carry out the provisions of section 31-75 either upon complaint or upon his ownmotion. For this purpose, the commissioner, or his authorized representative, may enter places of employment, inspectpayrolls, investigate work and operations on which employees are engaged, question employees and take such actionas is reasonably necessary to determine compliance with section 31-75. Any employer who violates the provisionsof section 31-75 shall be liable to the employee or the employees affected for the difference between the amountof wages paid and the maximum wage paid any other employee for equal work. Action to recover such difference maybe maintained in any court of competent jurisdiction by any one or more employees. Any agreement to work for lessthan the wage to which such employee is entitled under section 31-75 shall not be a defense to such action. Atthe request of any employee who has received less than the wage to which he is entitled under section 31-75, thecommissioner may take an assignment of such wage claim in trust and may bring any legal action necessary to collectsuch claim. If judgment is rendered against an employer in any civil action brought to collect wages under theprovisions of this section, the employer shall be required to pay the taxable costs and such reasonable attorney'sfees as may be allowed by the court. No action shall be brought or any prosecution instituted for any violationof section 31-75 unless within one year after the commission of the act complained of. Any person who violatessection 31-75 or any employer who discriminates in any manner against any employee because such employee has fileda complaint or taken any other action as herein provided shall, upon conviction, be fined for each violation notmore than two hundred dollars.

31-76a. Investigations on complaint of nonpayment of wages and certain misrepresentations re employees.

(a) On receipt of a complaint for nonpayment of wages or a violation of the provisions of subsection (g) ofsection 31-288, the Labor Commissioner, the director of minimum wage and wage enforcement agents of the Labor Departmentshall have power to enter, during usual business hours, the place of business or employment of any employer todetermine compliance with the wage payment laws or subsection (g) of section 31-288, and for such purpose may examinepayroll and other records and interview employees, call hearings, administer oaths, take testimony under oath andtake depositions in the manner provided by sections 52-148a to 52-148e, inclusive.

(b) The commissioner or the director, for such purpose, may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses andthe production of books and records. Any employer or any officer or agent of any employer, corporation, firm orpartnership who wilfully fails to furnish time and wage records as required by law to the commissioner, the directorof minimum wage or any wage enforcement agent upon request, or who refuses to admit the commissioner, the directoror such agent to the place of employment of such employer, corporation, firm or partnership, or who hinders ordelays the commissioner, the director or such agent in the performance of the commissioner's, the director's orsuch agent's duties in the enforcement of this section shall be fined not less than twenty- five dollars nor morethan one hundred dollars. Each day of such failure to furnish the time and wage records to the commissioner, thedirector or such agent shall constitute a separate offense, and each day of refusal to admit, of hindering or ofdelaying the commissioner, the director or such agent shall constitute a separate offense.