Though a new state law at the time required it, Central Connecticut State University did not provide paid sick leave to its student-workers in 2012 and half of 2013, state auditors said this week.
The New Britain-based school said it believed student workers were exempt from the law, which took effect Jan. 1, 2012, but found out a year later that the law did apply to those employees. CCSU said it underwent “an extraordinarily complex and manual process” to begin complying with the law in July 2013.
Auditors also found that CCSU oversight of employees holding more than one state job were lacking in the fiscal years 2011 and 2012 audit period.
The state’s dual-employment law bars someone from working for more than one state agency — or holding more than one position within one state agency — unless the agencies certify ahead of time that the duties performed and work hours are separate, and that there are no conflicts of interest between the positions.
Auditors found that required approval forms for three employees holding multiple state positions were not signed until seven to 28 months after their dual-employment periods ended. Collectively, they earned more than $18,500 in pay.
In addition, approvals for six employees were signed in the month after they started work.
CCSU said it sometimes hires lecturers at the last minute, making it difficult to get the proper signatures in time.
It said it has started better tracking dual-employment appointments and following up with state agencies for approvals, better documenting overlaps in dual employees’ work schedules, and is working with the state Department of Administrative Services to streamline the process.
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