Vermont Employee Handbook

When your company hires employees in Vermont, you are required to comply with federal, state, and local employment laws. There are a variety of human resources and labor policies in the workplace that differ by state. Through your employee handbook, employers can easily document and distribute the correct policies to their employees to comply with the laws of each state.

Creating your Vermont Employee Handbook is a useful way to explain important policies and procedures, mitigate legal risk, and introduce employees to the expectations and operating practices of the organization.

Mosey has compiled the relevant policies a company with employees in Vermont must consider.

Vermont Employee Handbook Policies

There are 14 state and local employee handbook policies in Vermont.

Employment

Vermont Flexible Working Arrangements Policy

You are eligible to request flexible working arrangements twice per calendar year.

Wage and Hour

Vermont Meal Break Policy

You are entitled to a reasonable opportunity to eat during work hours. Breaks of 30 minutes or longer are unpaid if you are relieved of all duties, while breaks shorter than 30 minutes or those requiring work are paid.

Vermont Rest Break Policy

You are entitled to reasonable opportunities to use restroom facilities during work to protect your health and hygiene.

Vermont Minimum Wage Policy

You are entitled to at least the following minimum wage for all hours worked: $14.01 per hour for standard wages and $7.01 per hour for tipped employees, with total earnings including tips meeting or exceeding the standard minimum wage. If the tips received do not meet the required amount, Employer will cover the difference.

Vermont Lactation Break Policy

You are entitled to reasonable break time to express breast milk for up to three years after the birth of your child. While lactation breaks are not required to be paid under Vermont law, Employer may choose to provide compensation. A private, clean, and secure space will be made available, excluding bathrooms, with privacy and close proximity to your work area. Retaliation or discrimination for exercising lactation rights is strictly prohibited.

Vacation, Sick, and Safe Leaves

Vermont Earned Sick Time Policy

You are entitled to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 52 hours worked, up to a maximum 40 hours per year. Earned sick time for personal or family illness, healthcare appointments, domestic violence-related matters, or caring for a family member during school or business closures for public health reasons

Leaves of Absence

Vermont Town Meeting Leave Policy

You are entitled to unpaid leave to attend town meetings, provided you give Employer seven days’ prior notice.

Vermont Crime Victim Leave Policy

Employer provides unpaid leave to employees who, or whose family members, are victims of crime, provided they have worked for at least six months and average 20 hours per week.

Vermont Military Service Leave Policy

Any member of the Reserve Components of the U.S. Armed Forces, Ready Reserve, Vermont National Guard, or the National Guard of another state is entitled to unpaid leave upon request to engage in military drills, training, or other temporary duty under state or federal military orders. Employees must notify their employer of the need for leave at least 30 days prior to the departure date or as soon as practical after being called into service.

Vermont Parental Leave Policy

Employees who have worked an average of 30 hours per week or more for at least one year at Employer are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid parental leave within any 12-month period, which can be taken during pregnancy, after childbirth, or within one year of the initial placement of a child aged 16 or younger for adoption.

Vermont Family Leave Policy

Employees who have worked an average of 30 hours per week or more for at least one year at Employer are entitled to:

• Up to 4 hours of unpaid short-term family leave within any 30-day period, not exceeding 24 hours in a 12-month period, for specific reasons.
• Up to 12 weeks of unpaid family leave for a serious illness affecting themselves or their child, stepchild, ward, foster child, civil union partner, parent, spouse, or spouse’s parent.

Vermont Jury Duty Leave Policy

You are entitled to unpaid leave to serve as a juror and must notify your supervisor as soon as possible after receiving the summons.

Vermont Summoned Witness Leave Policy

You are entitled to unpaid leave when summoned to appear as a witness in a legal proceeding and must notify your supervisor as soon as possible after receiving the summons.

Privacy

Vermont Social Media Privacy Policy

Generally, Employer is prohibited from accessing your personal social media accounts and will not discipline or terminate an employee for refusing to disclose their social media login information or for denying to provide access to their social media accounts.

Federal Employee Handbook Policies

Regardless of which states you have employees in, there are required federal policies that must be included in your employee handbook. In addition to any state-specific policies, your employee handbook for Vermont should contain the following federal policies.

• Anti-Harassment Policy
• Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy
• Anti-Retaliation Policy
• Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Handbook Policy Best Practices

In addition to the required federal policies, the following policies are best practices to include in your employee handbook.

• Prohibited Conduct Policy
• Violations Reporting Policy
• Workplace Violence Prevention Policy
• Weapons Policy
• Disciplinary Action Policy
• At-Will Employment
• Federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Policy