All workers deserve to be compensated for the work they complete, and employers should always meet the requirements of any contract they sign with an individual. Any worker who is not justly compensated should have clear and effective legal recourse to recoup any wages or benefits their employer fails to provide for work they completed. 

SB 409 would extend the ability of people who sue their employer for lack of payment to sue a separate company that never signed a contract with them. 

For instance, a general contractor (Company X) signs a contract with someone to build a home. To do a portion of the work, let’s say plumbing, Company X subcontracts work to Company Y. Company Y is now responsible for providing the plumbing services specified in the contract, they receive compensation from Company X to do that work, and they hire an individual(s) to complete the project. 

If Company Y fails to pay those individuals for the completed plumbing project, they are rightly held liable to make those payments. It is not the responsibility of Company X to make that payment, as they delegated that responsibility to Company Y and agreed to terms in a contract. Extending that liability is unjust and likely to have a chilling effect on industries across Connecticut.