Daley v. Aetna Life & Casualty Co

In Daley v. Aetna Life & Casualty Co., 249 Conn. 766, 734 A.2d 112 (1999), the plaintiff had circulated an internal memorandum detailing her dissatisfaction with her employer's arrangements and accommodation for working parents. The employer terminated the plaintiff's employment shortly after the memorandum's circulation. The plaintiff alleged that her termination violated the public policy of the state of Connecticut not to discriminate against individuals in employment because of their choice to have and raise children, and the public policy to promote employment opportunities for women by encouraging family friendly workplace policies. The Court affirmed the trial court's judgment in favor of the employer and found no public policy violation. "We recognize the important public policy embodied in the express provisions of the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Law General Statutes 31-51kk et seq., the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq., and General Statutes 46a-60 (a) (7) and 17a-101 (a), and underscore every employer's duty to comply with those provisions;" id., 804; but there is no public policy in Connecticut for employers to provide family friendly workplaces. Id., 802.