Family and Medical Leave

An employee who has worked for the same employer for one year, averaging at least 30 hours a week, is covered. Parental, bereavement and safe leave apply to employers with 10 or more such workers, and family leave to employers with 15 or more.

• 21 V.S.A. § 471StatuteDefinitionsOpens legislature.vermont.gov ↗

• An employee may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in any 12 month period for parental leave, family leave, safe leave, or a qualifying exigency.
• Up to two of those weeks may be bereavement leave, with not more than five workdays in a row.
• The employee may use accrued paid leave during it, but that does not lengthen the leave.
• Benefits continue at the same level, though the employee may be asked to pay the usual share.
• The employee gives reasonable written notice, and for a birth or adoption the employer cannot demand it more than six weeks ahead.
• On return, the employee is offered the same or a comparable job at the same pay, benefits and seniority.

• 21 V.S.A. § 472StatuteLeaveOpens legislature.vermont.gov ↗

An employer may not fire or retaliate against an employee for using or trying to use this leave.

• 21 V.S.A. § 473StatuteRetaliation prohibitedOpens legislature.vermont.gov ↗