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A Wage Claim

21 V.S.A. § 342a — a complaint to the Department of Labor within two years of the date the wages were due

  • An employee may file a complaint of unpaid wages no later than two years after the date they were due.
  • The employer is ordered to answer within 10 calendar days after receiving it.
  • The Commissioner investigates, tries to settle it, and otherwise issues a determination and an order for collection.
  • 21 V.S.A. § 342a
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An employer may not fire or retaliate against an employee for complaining, cooperating with an investigation, or being expected to. The employee can sue for damages, reinstatement and attorney's fees. A court action for unpaid wages is due within two years.

Sources for this section (3)
  1. 21 V.S.A. § 342a — Investigation of complaints of unpaid wages
  2. 21 V.S.A. § 348 — Retaliation prohibited
  3. 12 V.S.A. § 520 — Payment of wages

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Vermont attorney.

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