Connecticut · mercantile only · reporting-time · Conn. Agencies Regs. § 31-62-D2(d) · CT MW $16.94 (2026)
Connecticut retail show-up is four hours at the regular rate — not Massachusetts’ three at minimum wage.
Conn. Agencies Regs. § 31-62-D2(d) is mercantile only (wholesale/retail selling and incidental operations, § 31-62-D1(c)). An employee who reports by request or permission, whether or not put to work, is guaranteed four hours’ earnings at the regular rate. A DOL-approved written waiver for regularly scheduled employment of less than four hours still requires daily pay of at least twice the applicable minimum hourly rate — $16.94 × 2 = $33.88 (CT DOL Wage and Workplace Standards, 1 January 2026). Overtime in this order is weekly 40 only (D2(c)). Not MA, RI, NH, or NY 142.
Read the order: four hours at regular, waiver floor 2× MW
Fetched Conn. Agencies Regs. § 31-62-D2 (eff. 15 Aug 1972; am. 4 Jan 2001): “An employee who, by request or permission of the employer, reports for duty on any day whether or not assigned to actual work shall be compensated for a minimum of four hours’ earnings at his regular rate. In instances of regularly scheduled employment of less than four hours, as mutually agreed in writing between employer and employee, and approved by the labor department, this provision may be waived, provided the minimum daily pay in every instance shall be at least twice the applicable minimum hourly rate.” Overtime in (c): “Not less than one and one-half times the employee’s regular hourly rate shall be paid for all hours in excess of forty in any work week.”
§ 31-62-D1(c) (same eRegs compilation): “Mercantile trade” means the trade of wholesale or retail selling of commodities and any operation supplemental or incidental thereto, including, but not limited to, buying, delivery, maintenance, office, stock and clerical work. Repair and service employees may be excluded if the major portion of their duties is unrelated to the mercantile trade. Restaurant reporting (E1, two-hour floor) is not this page.
The 2026 Connecticut minimum wage on this page is $16.94, effective 1 January 2026, from the Connecticut Department of Labor, Wage and Workplace Standards Division (“$16.94 effective on January 1, 2026”). Companion listing: CT DOL Labor Market Information — Minimum Wage Information.
Reports, furnished 1h @ $20 → $80 (4h × $20)
Furnished 4h+ @ $20 → no extra guarantee
Waiver on, scheduled 2h, furnished 0, CT MW $16.94 → daily floor $33.88 (2 × $16.94)
In scope
- Mercantile (wholesale/retail selling and incidental operations) only
- Punch-in/out to prove the employee reported
- Four hours’ earnings at the regular rate when furnished under 4 hours
- DOL-approved written waiver for regularly scheduled <4 hours: daily floor 2 × $16.94
- FLSA / D2(c) weekly 40 on hours worked
Out of scope
- Restaurants / hotel restaurants (wage order E — 2-hour floor)
- MA 3 hours at basic MW, RI 3× regular, NH 2 hours, NY 142 call-in
- Daily overtime (D2(c) is weekly 40 only)
- NJ 1-hour reporting, CA/NY paid sick, KY 7th-day, standalone on-call
FAQ
What is Connecticut mercantile reporting pay under § 31-62-D2(d)?
An employee in the mercantile trade who, by request or permission of the employer, reports for duty on any day whether or not assigned to actual work shall be compensated for a minimum of four hours’ earnings at the regular rate. One hour furnished at $20 is $80 (4 × $20). Four hours furnished is no extra guarantee.
Who is covered — is this every Connecticut job?
No. Mercantile only. Conn. Agencies Regs. § 31-62-D1(c): the trade of wholesale or retail selling of commodities and any operation supplemental or incidental thereto, including buying, delivery, maintenance, office, stock, and clerical work. Repair and service employees may be excluded if the major portion of their duties is unrelated to the mercantile trade. Restaurant reporting is a different order (E1, two-hour floor) and is not this page.
What is the 2026 Connecticut minimum wage used for the waiver floor?
$16.94 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. Source: Connecticut Department of Labor, Wage and Workplace Standards Division (portal.ct.gov/dol/divisions/wage-and-workplace-standards), listing $16.94 effective on January 1, 2026. The DOL-approved written waiver for regularly scheduled employment of less than four hours still requires daily pay of at least twice that rate ($33.88).
Does Connecticut mercantile have daily overtime?
No. § 31-62-D2(c) is weekly 40 only: one and one-half times the regular hourly rate for hours in excess of forty in any work week. This page does not invent daily overtime.
