Connecticut Paid Leave Website Redesign

Project Overview

Home page scroll through of CT Paid Leave website

Organization

CT Paid Leave Authority

Role

Lead UX/UI Designer and Accessibility Consultant

Platform

Sitecore

The Connecticut Paid Leave (CTPL) program needed a digital overhaul to better support workers, families, and professionals in navigating the state’s paid leave policies. A high rate of claim denials, often due to incomplete or misunderstood documentation, highlighted the need for a more accessible, user-friendly website.

* Due to a non-disclosure agreement, information on this project is limited.

Collaborators: Tyler Technologies

The Challenge

The original CTPL website was difficult to navigate and resulted in a high number of claims being denied, mainly due to users submitting incomplete documentation. Our goal was to create an accessible and intuitive platform that easily guided users through the claims process.

The Approach

We proposed creating a new website centered around user needs. This decision was based on a comprehensive analysis of a year’s CTPL program data and call center staff insights. Additionally, user interviews and usability testing were conducted to ensure the website was intuitive and easy to navigate.

The design process.

Discovery and User Research

We began by analyzing the high rate of denied claims, with 40% of denials caused by incomplete document submissions. Through user research and empathy mapping, we developed eight key personas, such as Elena, a worker needing clearer guidance. This research helped shape the strategy for simplifying the user journey and addressing key pain points.

User Persona - Elena, a worker in CT needs help with Paid Leave
User Goals - Elena, a worker in CT, needs a new way to learn about and navigate the claims process for CTPL so that she can complete her claims forms easily and quickly, thanks to clear guidance on the CTPL website.

Information Architecture and Wireframing

After gathering insights, we restructured the information architecture to create a clearer, more intuitive layout. We organized content into core sections like “How CTPL Works,” “Claims,” and “Businesses & Employers” to improve user flow.

We developed 22 wireframes to map out the layout of these pages, focusing on simplicity and accessibility. Each wireframe was iterated based on feedback to ensure they met user needs.

User Journey - Elena's process through the CTPL website showing she interacts with the call center, watches webinars, and listens to podcasts to learn about the claims process
Hand drawn sketch of the Resources page showing a search bar at the top, a tabbed section with links for different user types, and a section of videos and documents at the bottom
A wireframe of the same Resources page showing the design more refined and filled out with elements

Prototyping and Usability Testing

Once wireframes were finalized, we created a 24-page high-fidelity prototype with realistic visuals to simulate the final website. This prototype was used for remote usability testing, where participants completed tasks and shared feedback.

Feedback emphasized simplifying the language and improving clarity, which led to further refinements in the design.

Design System and Accessibility

Using feedback from testing, we developed a design system that firmly focused on accessibility. Built with Sitecore’s reusable components, the system ensured all elements were easily managed and met accessibility standards.

Header and Footer design mockup with accessibility annotations and media breakpoints
Design system of button styles showing the default, hover, active, focus, and disabled states with written specs

Implemented Solution

The results and impact.

The redesigned CTPL website is now a fully responsive, accessible platform that provides step-by-step instructions for claim submission. The improvements resulted in a better user experience and reduced claim errors.

Home page scroll through of CT Paid Leave website