Connecticut is set to expand its paid sick leave law, affecting private-sector employees beginning January 1, 2025. Previously limited to employers with 50 or more employees and service workers, the new law will extend paid sick leave to all employees at companies with 25 or more employees, with further expansion in 2026 and 2027. Key changes include the elimination of the service worker criteria, no requirement for employees to provide documentation or advance notice for leave, and expanded use of sick time to care for family members. Additionally, the law increases accrual from one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked to one hour for every 30 hours worked, with a carryover of 40 hours or the option for employers to frontload sick leave at the start of each year. Governor Ned Lamont signed the bill in May, and the implementation will occur in phases over the next few years.

It’s not too late to register for tomorrow's LIVE webinar Blueprint to Maximize Your Caregiver Recruitment Process at 1:00 p.m. ET. Hear from industry leaders about the strategies behind successful caregiver recruiting — and how you can apply them at your agency immediately.

Do you have children or know a college student interested in aging policy? Then you may be interested to know the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is seeking three interns for an eight-week, in-person summer policy internship program in Washington, DC, focused on aging-related policy development. The internship includes a $6,000 stipend and flexible start dates. One internship is reserved for a candidate enrolled in a Minority Serving Institution. Internship duties may include attending congressional hearings, researching issues that impact older adults, meetings with federal regulatory agencies, monitoring legislation and regulations, and contributing to GSA’s Public Policy & Aging Report, among other duties.

The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed phasing out the ability for employers to pay subminimum wages to workers with disabilities under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rule would halt the issuance of new certificates allowing subminimum wage and gradually phase out existing certificates over three years. This change follows a year-long review and is expected to improve the economic well-being and inclusion of workers with disabilities.

HCAOA submitted comments in response to the Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) Expedited Proposal (CR-105): Workplace Violence in Health Care. The proposed rule, which contains provisions that would impact home care agencies, was proposed via an expedited rulemaking process, which means that if no objections or comments were provided prior to the December 2nd deadline, the rule would bypass the normal rulemaking process and be adopted immediately.

Connecticut’s paid sick leave law and requirements for businesses and employers, including home care agencies will expand in several ways beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan of the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, issued a permanent injunction against a Biden administration overtime pay rule aimed at expanding eligibility to millions of salaried workers, halting the implementation of a rule that could have significantly impacted the home care industry and its workforce. The full decision may be read by clicking here.

HCAOA is excited to introduce Cai Yoke as the newest addition to the team, stepping into the Senior Manager of Government Relations role. Yoke brings a wealth of experience and expertise to HCAOA.

​In her role, she will focus on state advocacy issues and be an instrumental partner for HCAOA’s state chapters to advance issue campaigns that enhance our members’ ability to provide high-quality care to those in need. Before joining HCAOA, Yoke worked on the government relations and grassroots advocacy teams at BAYADA Home Health Care and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) appealed a federal court ruling that blocked its proposed ban on noncompete agreements for employers. This action comes after Judge Ada Brown of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas determined that the FTC exceeded its authority in implementing the ban. Her ruling expanded to apply to all employers.

The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) has released a report emphasizing the urgent need for an employment pipeline of direct support professionals (DSPs) to provide essential home care services for individuals with disabilities. Highlighting the significant demand for DSPs in the U.S., the report notes that recruitment, training, and support for these roles must undergo substantial changes to meet the growing needs of Americans with disabilities. With the number of individuals relying on home- and community-based services (HCBS) projected to rise sharply, the current average vacancy rate in HCBS organizations is more than 20%.

Representatives from the HCAOA Policy Committee (Cheryl Stanton, BrightStar Care & HCAOA Policy Chair; and Doug Robertson, Right at Home), HCAOA Staff (Jason Lee, HCAOA CEO, and Eric Reinarman, HCAOA VP of Government Relations), and HCAOA Lobbyist (Michael Strazzella, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC) met in Washinton, DC last week to discuss HCAOA’s policy strategy for 2025. The team discussed various key topics, including plans to schedule meetings with the transition teams of Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump. HCAOA is eager to collaborate with both candidates and learn more about their respective plans for home care going forward.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) just released the September jobs report, noting that the number of home care jobs has risen in recent months, and the field frequently leads the healthcare industry in total monthly job growth. In July, 21,600 new workers entered home healthcare, and in May, roughly 20,000 entered.

U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Bob Casey (D-Penn) have introduced three bills aimed at bolstering the Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who provide essential home care and assistance to seniors and individuals with disabilities. This initiative comes in response to the caregiver work shortage. The bills are designed to create new programs and adjust federal funding to enhance home and community-based services (HCBS), addressing the urgent need for support in this critical workforce.

The Pennsylvania Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) is re-opening the Calendar Year 2023 Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) rate study survey to allow additional responses from providers who were unable to participate earlier. This includes personal assistance agencies (PAS).

Governor Ned Lamont last month announced that beginning Jan. 1, 2025, Connecticut’s minimum wage will increase from the current rate of $15.69 per hour to $16.35 per hour.