Lawmakers in Connecticut introduced a bill Thursday that addresses warehouse worker performance quotas and other issues that worker advocates say have led to a steady increase in repetitive motion injuries.
S.B. 412, which was referred to Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees, focuses on work within “warehouse distribution centers.”
The bill states that whenever an employer makes a change to a quota that the affected employee must be provided “an updated written description of each quota for which such employee is subject to” within two days of the job description change. Employers that use quotas would also have to keep records regarding them.
Under the proposal, the state Workers, Compensation Commission would monitor the injury rates of employees working in warehouse distribution centers, and if “an employer is found to have an annual injury rate at or over one and one-half time the warehousing industry’s average annual injury rate” the commission must notify the state’s labor commissioner, who will determine whether to investigate potential violations.
The bill presumes a connection between adverse action against a worker who reports a violation, unless proven otherwise, and includes fines for employers of up to $3,000 for violations.