Connecticut limits production quotas for warehouse workers

A new law will soon place limits on production quotas for warehouse workers in Connecticut.

S.B. 298, which takes effect July 1, 2026, will require certain employers that operate warehouse distribution centers to inform employees in writing of any production quotas that apply to them and the consequences of not meeting the quotas. This information must be provided to existing employees by August 1, 2026, and upon hire for new employees hired after that date. Employees must also be notified of changes to existing production quotas.

Under the law, quotas must not:

• Prevent compliance with meal break laws;
• Interfere with an employee’s use of bathroom facilities;
• Set a performance standard that measures an employee’s total output over an increment of time shorter than the employee’s work day; or
• Set a performance standard based solely on ranking an employee’s performance in relation to that of other employees.

Employers may not take adverse action against an employee for failing to satisfy a quota that violates the above standards or that was not previously provided to the employee in writing.

The law applies to employers with:

• 250 or more employees at a single warehouse distribution center in the Connecticut; or
• 1,000 or more total employees across one or more warehouse distribution centers in Connecticut.

The law also requires recordkeeping. Employers that use production quotas must maintain records of each employee’s work speed data, the aggregated work speed data for similar employees at the same site, and the written production quota information provided to each employee. Current and former employees will have the right to request this information.

Current and former employees, as well as the state attorney general, may file suit for violations of the law. Violations may result in civil penalties, damages and other remedies.

Similar laws are in effect in California, New York, Washington, Minnesota and Oregon.