Connecticut Whistleblower Protections

Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 4-61dd(a)

Any person having knowledge of any matter involving corruption, unethical practices, violation of state laws or regulations, mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority or danger to the public safety occurring in any state department or agency or any quasi-public agency, as defined in section 1-120, or any person having knowledge of any matter involving corruption, violation of state or federal laws or regulations, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority or danger to the public safety occurring in any large state contract, may transmit all facts and information in such person’s possession concerning such matter to the Auditors of Public Accounts.

Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 4-611dd(b)(1)

No state officer or employee, as defined in section 4-141, no quasi-public agency officer or employee, no officer or employee of a large state contractor and no appointing authority shall take or threaten to take any personnel action against any state or quasipublic agency employee or any employee of a large state contractor in retaliation for such employee’s or contractor’s disclosure of information to

• (A) an employee of the Auditors of Public Accounts or the Attorney General under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section;

 

• (B) an employee of the state agency or quasi-public agency where such state officer or employee is employed;

 

• (C) an employee of a state agency pursuant to a mandated reporter statute; or

 

• (D) in the case of a large state contractor, an employee of the contracting state agency concerning information involving the large state contract.

Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 4-61dd(b)(3)(A)

… If the human rights referee finds such a violation, the referee may award the aggrieved employee reinstatement to the employee’s former position, back pay and reestablishment of any employee benefits for which the employee would otherwise have been eligible if such violation had not occurred, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and any other damages…

Sec. 17b-301k

Any employee, contractor or agent

lawful acts done by the employee, contractor, agent or associated others in furtherance of an action under sections 17b-301c to 17b-301g, inclusive, including investigation for, initiation of, testimony for or assistance in an action filed or to be filed under sections 17b-301c to 17b-301g, inclusive, or efforts to stop a violation of sections 17b-301a to 17b-301p, inclusive

all relief necessary to make the employee, contractor or agent whole. Such relief shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status such employee would have had but for the discrimination, two times the amount of any back pay, interest on any back pay and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. An employee may bring an action in the Superior Court for the relief provided in this section.

Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-51m

Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-51m(a)(1)

“Person” means one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, limited liability companies, business trusts, legal representatives or any organized group of persons;

Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-51m(a)(3)

“Employee” means any person engaged in service to an employer in a business of his employer;

Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-51m(b)

 No employer shall discharge, discipline or otherwise penalize any employee because the employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, reports, verbally or in writing, a violation or a suspected violation of any state or federal law or regulation or any municipal ordinance or regulation to a public body, or because an employee is requested by a public body to participate in an investigation, hearing or inquiry held by that public body, or a court action. No municipal employer shall discharge, discipline or otherwise penalize any employee because the employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, reports, verbally or in writing, to a public body concerning the unethical practices, mismanagement or abuse of authority by such employer. The provisions of this subsection shall not be applicable when the employee knows that such report is false.

 Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-51m(c)

 Any employee who is discharged, disciplined or otherwise penalized by his employer in violation of the provisions of subsection (b) may, after exhausting all available administrative remedies, bring a civil action, within ninety days of the date of the final administrative determination or within ninety days of such violation, whichever is later, in the superior court for the judicial district where the violation is alleged to have occurred or where the employer has its principal office, for the reinstatement of his previous job, payment of back wages and reestablishment of employee benefits to which he would have otherwise been entitled if such violation had not occurred. An employee’s recovery from any such action shall be limited to such items, provided the court may allow to the prevailing party his costs, together with reasonable attorney’s fees to be taxed by the court. Any employee found to have knowingly made a false report shall be subject to disciplinary action by his employer up to and including dismissal.