The Vermont Parental and Family Leave law allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for certain family and medical reasons. This law is administered by the Vermont Department of Labor.

To be eligible for parental and family leave, an employee must:

• Have worked for their employer for at least 12 months
• Have worked an average of at least 30 hours per week during the previous 12 months
• Be the parent, stepparent, legal guardian, or foster parent of a child who is under the age of 18
• Be the spouse, domestic partner, or civil union partner of a person who is seriously ill

During parental and family leave, an employee is entitled to:

• Keep their job
• Return to their same or an equivalent position
• Continue to accrue seniority and benefits

An employee must give their employer at least 30 days’ notice before taking parental and family leave. However, if the need for leave is unexpected, such as in the case of a serious illness, the employee may be able to take leave without giving notice.

An employee who takes parental and family leave may be able to use accrued paid leave, such as vacation or sick leave, to supplement their unpaid leave.

If you have any questions about parental and family leave, please contact the Vermont Department of Labor.

Here are some additional details about the Vermont Parental and Family Leave law:

• The law applies to all employers in Vermont, with the following exceptions:
  • Employers with fewer than 10 employees
• The law does not require employers to pay employees for their leave.
• Employees who are laid off or fired while on leave are entitled to be paid for all accrued wages, including any unpaid leave.
• Employers are required to post a notice about the parental and family leave law in a conspicuous place in the workplace.

The Vermont Parental and Family Leave law is designed to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities. If you have any questions about the law, please contact the Vermont Department of Labor.