Under the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act (CFEPA)420, it is an unlawful employment practice to refuse to hire, to discharge, or to discriminate against any person in any aspect of the employment relationship based on the individual's race, color, national origin, mental retardation, religion, sexual orientation, sex, age, ancestry, marital status, past or present mental disorder, learning disability, or physical disability. The law applies to employers with three or more employees. The Act also prohibits any employer from retaliating against an employee who asserts rights or participates in a proceeding originating from the provisions of the statute. The law governs all employers with three or more employees and is administered by the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). See Section XIII.E.
Any employer who subjects an employee to discipline or discharge for exercising rights guaranteed by the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution or Section 3, 4 or 14 of Article first of this state, may be liable to such employee for damages and attorneys' fees provided that the employee's activity does not substantially or materially interfere with the employee's job performance or working relationship with the employer. 421 See Chapter XIV.
An employer cannot discipline, discharge or otherwise penalize an employee because the employee, or someone acting on his behalf, made a verbal or written report concerning a violation or suspected violation of any state or federal law, regulation or ordinance or concerning unethical practices, mismanagement or abuse of authority by the employer. This section does not apply when an employee knowingly makes a false report.422 See Chapter XIV.
420 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-51 et. seq.