LABOR LAW NEWS
Vermont Senate Passes Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill
By Kris Janisch
Published Jan. 21, 2020
The state senate on Jan. 17 passed its version of the bill 20-9. The legislation now heads to the Vermont House, where it’s expected to receive a vote without any changes.
The Vermont Senate has moved forward with a paid family and medical leave bill, continuing a hotly debated measure from the previous legislative session.
The state senate on Jan. 17 passed its version of the bill 20-9. The legislation now heads to the Vermont House, where it’s expected to receive a vote without any changes.
Vermont Paid Family and Medical Leave Proposal
Under the proposal, workers would receive:
- 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth of a child or an adoption
- Eight weeks of paid leave to care for a family member
- Benefits paid depending on how much an employee earns
- Average Vermonter would get 70 percent of pay
The Vermont paid family and medical leave bill would be funded through 0.2 percent payroll tax on most workers in the state. Employers could opt out if they provide a more generous plan.
Also, the legislation broadly defines “family member,” including domestic and civil union partners, grandparents and grandchildren, and more.
“The real heart of support for our elderly population is family. Family steps up and we don’t do enough to support the families that are caregiving. This is one small step we can do for them to allow them to take off work and get paid,” Sen. Michael Sirotkin, a Democrat, told a local CBS affiliate.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, however, has generally opposed paid family and medical leave proposals that would increase payroll taxes. He vetoed similar legislation in 2018. Yet the support from the Vermont Senate means lawmakers may have the votes to override a veto.
If enacted, the bill would go into effect Jan. 1.
Paid Leave Laws Nationwide
Following pushes for minimum wage increases and laws related to the #MeToo Movement, paid leave has risen to the forefront in the world of employment law.
With no federal law in place, many cities and counties have enacted paid sick leave laws, along with 11 states and Washington, D.C. Already in 2020, more than 200 bills related to paid leave in some form had been introduced. Managing paid leave has become a primary concern for HR pros across the U.S.
Meanwhile, paid family and medical leave is also gaining momentum. Eight states and D.C. have enacted such legislation.
Lastly, Maine, Nevada and Bernalillo County, N.M., have passed paid leave laws that allow employees to take time off for any reason.
This Labor Law News Blog is intended for market awareness only, it is not to be used for legal advice or counsel.
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