Reminder #1:  Please use any remaining PL time prior to January 1st.  PL time expires on 12/31 so if it is not used, it is lost.

Reminder #2: A&R has furlough days on 12/26 and 12/27.  A&R employees are not obligated to report to work on those 2 dates.  Anyone who chooses to work on either or both of those days needs to select another day as their furlough day(s).  Remember, we all are taking 3 furlough days between July 2017 and June 2018.  Everyone's paycheck is being docked for the value of 3 furlough days so if you do not take all 3 furlough days prior to June 30, 2018 then you far overpaid and there is no refund... it is the responsibility of each individual to ensure that they have taken all 3 furlough days by June 30, 2018.

If you were directed to work on the 11/24 furlough day, you cannot be directed to work on 12/26 or 12/27; management can only direct you to work on one of the three prescribed days.

Reminder #3: Prior to 12/31/17, anyone who has a "chronic condition" should read and complete the form found on the www.cthep.com website for that particular chronic condition.  This is part of the compliance piece associated with the $100 rebate...(as a reminder, the password requires at least 8 characters, at least 1 capital letter, and at least 1 number)

Reminder #4:  The 2018 Calendar of State Holidays and Check Dates is available for review/download.

All members should know their rights under the contract.  We want to remind members of the following changes to our contract relating to winter weather:  

DELAYED OPENINGS
In the instance of a Governor (designee) delayed opening of 11:00AM or later, Article 16 Section six of the A&R contract shall not apply and employees shall be expected to arrive at the Governor (designee) declared start time.  In instances where an employee arrives after the Governor (designee) declared start time, said employee may opt to either make up the extended delay or charge said excess time to accrued leave.  In all

If you are looking for a family gift idea this holiday season, A&R has set-up 3 bus trips to MLB baseball games for the 2018 season...3 good games.  We have the defending World Series Champion Houston Astros against the Yankees in late May and then the Astros against the Red Sox in early September...these are 3 of the 4 American League playoff teams from last year and the Astros also boast New Britain native George Springer in centerfield (who was the MVP of the 2017 World Series)...then we also have a Yankee/Red Sox game in late September!  We haven't purchased tickets for this rivalry in

Comptroller Kevin Lembo today announced that his office, in partnership with the state's Health Care Cost Containment Committee (known as the HCCCC, where A&R has a seat at the table), has initiated a measure to block the unnecessary use of outrageously expensive specialty drugs - and is urging the Office of the Attorney General to investigate the alleged possible relationships between a drug manufacturer and its top dispensing pharmacies and prescribers.

According to the Comptroller, "This review is necessary to ensure that prescriptions are motivated by what’s best for the health of patients

It has been a solid 40 days since the 2017/18 State Budget was passed and there is a projected shortfall of $208 million by the end of the fiscal year.  The $208M represents more than 1% of the budget and therefore triggers budget mitigation authority to the Governor.  The Governor has limits on his authority to perform line-item budget rescissions but has a wide-array of tools to limit spending.  The Governor will be enacting mitigation steps soon.  

From our perspective, one of the silliest  things the state is spending money on is an electronic "time and attendance" system.  The "Kronos"