Welcome to the Employment Blog of Madsen, Prestley & Parenteau, LLC, a leading Connecticut law firm dedicated to protecting employee rights. Here, our attorneys share insights on workplace discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and other key employment law topics to help you stay informed and empowered.


 

Mother with young son, trying to balance home and work life. Visual concept for a blog discussing FMLA Leave.

Can You Be Demoted or Reassigned After Taking FMLA Leave?

When an employee takes Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, the law promises job protection. But too often, workers return to find that their duties, pay, or even titles have changed. Employers may claim it’s a business necessity, but in many…
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Young woman monitoring computer usage, illustrating workplace privacy concerns and employer monitoring of emails and online activity in Connecticut.

Can Your Employer Monitor Your Email and Online Activity?

As an employee, you likely send dozens of messages a day, log into multiple sites, and sometimes even check a personal account during a quick break. But a question lingers in the background: how much of this can your employer see? The truth is that e…
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Newspaper Headlines At-Will Employment - visual for a blog discussing severance pay laws for At-WIll employees.

Understanding Severance Agreements for At-Will Employees

Severance Pay Laws: Understanding Your Rights and Agreements Losing a job is never easy, even when employment is at-will. In Connecticut, most employees work under at-will rules, meaning an employer can terminate employment at any time, for almost an…
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Tired stressed pregnant woman sitting on a couch. Visual concept for a employee attorney blog discussing your possible legal rights if you are pregnant and laid off.

Pregnant and Laid Off? You Might Have a Wrongful Termination Claim

Finding out you are pregnant should be a time of excitement and preparation. But if you are pregnant and laid off, it can also bring stress, uncertainty, and fear. While some layoffs are legitimate, others may cross the line into unlawful treatment.…
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Severance Pay concept with agreement document

Severance Pay and Unemployment Benefits: What You Need to Know

Losing your job can feel like having the rug pulled out from under you. Between the emotional stress and financial pressure, you’re left scrambling for answers, especially with severance pay and your right to collect unemployment benefits. If youâ€â€¦
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Non Compete Agreement. Business Competition Contract

Non-Compete Agreements and Their Enforceability

Non-compete agreements have become common in many industries, but that doesn’t mean they’re always valid or fair. If you’ve been asked to sign one, or if you’re leaving a job and wondering what restrictions might follow you, it’s important…
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Female employee: stress and sadness after receiving a layoff notice. The impact of the economic recession and layoffs.

Can You Be Wrongfully Terminated During a Layoff?

When companies downsize, workers are often left feeling blindsided. The news of mass layoffs, especially following big profits or corporate restructuring, can be jarring. But just because a company claims a layoff was necessary doesn’t mean every t…
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Man opening wallet to show there is no money inside. Visual concept for a blog by the employment law lawyers of Madsen, Prestley & Parenteau, LLC discussing Connecticut Minimum Wage Increase and Wage Theft Protection Laws.

Connecticut Minimum Wage Increase and Wage Theft Protection Laws

Connecticut continues to lead the region in raising workplace standards. As of January 1, 2025, the state’s minimum wage increased to $16.35 per hour. But fair pay means nothing without enforcement. That’s why Connecticut also backs worke…
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Statue of Lady Justice. Symbol of fair treatment under law. Visual for employment law blog discussing the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis.

U.S. Supreme Court decision in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis (2024)

For years, courts often told workers they hadn’t suffered enough to prove workplace discrimination. A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court changed the standards governing claims of discrimination. In Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, a unanimous U.S…
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Whistleblower Law text engraved on Lawyer Gavel. Whistleblowing visual concept for a legal blog discussing Connecticut whistleblower laws.

CT Whistleblower Laws: What Employees Need to Know

Speaking up when something feels wrong at work isn’t easy. It can be intimidating, isolating, and—depending on your employer’s reaction—risky. But Connecticut whistleblower laws offer meaningful protection for whistleblowers, and understandin…
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