Connecticut Violence in the Workplace: What you need to know

By law, when handguns are being transported in a motor vehicle, they must be unloaded and kept in a place not readily or directly accessible from the passenger compartment, or in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. A violation carries a penalty of 1 to 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, with a mandatory minimum 1-year sentence in the absence of mitigating circumstances. Any handgun found in the violator's possession must be forfeited (CT Gen. Stat. Sec. 29-35 and 29-37).

Employers are not required to allow employees to store firearms in locked vehicles on company-owned or -leased property. Individuals are barred from possessing or carrying handguns on any premises where prohibited by law or by the person who owns or exercises control over the premises (CT Gen. Stat. Sec. 29-28(e)).

State law requires healthcare employers that employ at least 50 full employee (full-time or part-time) to develop and implement plans, policies, and training programs designed to prevent and respond to workplace violence. Covered employers must establish and convene an ongoing workplace safety committee (comprised of at least 50 percent nonmanagement employees) and conduct an annual work violence risk assessment. Each year, the employer is required to work with the workplace safety committee to develop and implement a written workplace violence prevention and response plan based on the findings of the risk assessment.

Covered employers are also required, to the extent practicable, to adjust patient care assignments if requested by a healthcare employee as a result of a patient who intentionally physically abused or threatened the ...