WAGE AND HOUR DEMAND LETTER

State of Connecticut

Fair Labor Standards Act and Connecticut Wage Law Claims

[ATTORNEY/FIRM LETTERHEAD]

[Firm Name]
[Address Line 1]
[City, Connecticut ZIP]
Tel: [Phone Number]
Fax: [Fax Number]
[Attorney Email]
[Connecticut Bar Juris Number]

VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
AND VIA EMAIL TO: [recipient_email]

[Date]

[Employer Contact Name]
[Title]
[Company Legal Name]
[Company Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Re: Wage and Hour Violations - [Client Full Name]
Demand for Unpaid Wages Under Connecticut General Statutes and FLSA
CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT COMMUNICATION PURSUANT TO FRE 408 and Conn. Code Evid. Section 4-8

Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx. Last Name]:

This firm represents [Client Full Name] regarding claims for unpaid wages against [Company Legal Name] arising from violations of Connecticut General Statutes Sections 31-58 et seq. (Minimum Wage), Sections 31-71a et seq. (Wage Payment), and the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"), 29 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.

I. CONNECTICUT-SPECIFIC LEGAL FRAMEWORK

A. Connecticut Wage and Hour Requirements

Connecticut provides strong employee protections with minimum wages significantly above the federal rate.

Key Requirements:

B. Connecticut Minimum Wage

Annual Increases: Connecticut minimum wage is indexed to the Employment Cost Index (ECI), increasing automatically each January 1.

Hotel and Restaurant Employees:
- Higher tipped minimum wage for bartenders: $8.23/hour (2026)
- Other tipped employees: $6.38/hour (2026)
- Tip credit maximum: $9.97/hour (service) or $8.12/hour (bartenders)

C. Connecticut Overtime Requirements

Coverage: Connecticut overtime law covers most employers regardless of size (broader than FLSA).

D. Meal Period Requirements

Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 31-51ii:

E. Statute of Limitations

F. Penalties and Remedies

Connecticut Wage Payment (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 31-72):

Note: Connecticut provides automatic double damages; employer must prove good faith to avoid doubling.

G. Enforcement Mechanisms

Administrative:
- Connecticut Department of Labor, Wage and Workplace Standards Division
- File wage complaint (no fee)
- Investigation and hearing process
- Can order payment of wages plus penalties

Private Right of Action:
- Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 31-72: Express private right of action
- Double damages presumed
- Mandatory attorney's fees
- Class actions available

II. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF CLAIMS

Our client was employed by [Company Short Name] as a [Job Title] from [Start Date] to [End Date / Present] in Connecticut. [Company Short Name] violated Connecticut and federal wage laws by:

[ ] Failing to pay Connecticut minimum wage of $16.35 per hour
[ ] Failing to pay overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40/week
[ ] Misclassifying our client as exempt from overtime
[ ] Misclassifying our client as an independent contractor
[ ] Improperly taking tip credit without meeting requirements
[ ] Failing to provide required meal periods for shifts over 7.5 hours
[ ] Failing to pay weekly as required
[ ] Failing to pay final wages on time upon termination
[ ] Making unlawful deductions from wages

III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

A. Employment Relationship

B. Hours Worked

Typical Weekly Schedule:

IV. LEGAL ANALYSIS

A. Connecticut Wage Law Violations

1. Minimum Wage (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 31-58)

Connecticut's minimum wage of $16.35/hour significantly exceeds the federal minimum. [Company Short Name] failed to pay this rate by [describe violation].

2. Overtime (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 31-76c)

Connecticut requires overtime pay at 1.5x for hours over 40 per week. Our client worked [X] hours per week without proper overtime.

3. Meal Period Violation (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 31-51ii)

[If applicable:] [Company Short Name] failed to provide required 30-minute meal periods for shifts exceeding 7.5 hours.

4. Final Pay Violation (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 31-71c)

[If applicable:] Upon [discharge on Date], [Company Short Name] failed to pay all wages by the next business day as required.

B. Double Damages

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 31-72, our client is entitled to double damages. The burden is on [Company Short Name] to prove good faith to avoid doubling, which is unavailable here because [describe willfulness].

V. DAMAGES CALCULATION

A. Connecticut Wage Law Damages

1. Unpaid Wages

2. Double Damages (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 31-72)

B. Summary of Damages

VI. SETTLEMENT DEMAND

We demand payment of $[Settlement Demand Amount] to resolve all claims.

This demand expires in twenty-one (21) days on [Response Deadline Date].

VII. RESPONSE AND LITIGATION

If not resolved, we will file:

1. Wage complaint with Connecticut Department of Labor
2. Suit in Connecticut Superior Court seeking double damages
3. Suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut for FLSA claims

VIII. DOCUMENT PRESERVATION

Preserve all time records, payroll records, personnel files, and policies immediately.

Sincerely,

[Attorney Name]
[Connecticut Juris No.]
[Firm Name]

CONNECTICUT-SPECIFIC PRACTICE NOTES

[ ] Double Damages: Automatic under Section 31-72 unless employer proves good faith

[ ] Weekly Pay Requirement: Most employers must pay weekly; violation is separate claim

[ ] Immediate Final Pay: Discharged employees must be paid next business day

[ ] High Minimum Wage: Connecticut rate ($16.35) significantly exceeds federal

[ ] Meal Period Law: Applies to manufacturing, mechanical, mercantile establishments

[ ] ECI Indexing: Minimum wage increases automatically with inflation

[ ] Connecticut DOL Contact:
- Phone: (860) 263-6790
- Website: portal.ct.gov/dol/divisions/wage-and-workplace-standards
- Wage complaint form available online