Skip to main content
You have permission to edit this article.
Edit

Debate cranks up on requiring a paid-leave policy

  • Updated
  • 0
  • 1 min to read
Supporters of paid leave gather in Middlebury

Lindsay DesLauriers, center, head of the Main Street Alliance, stands among supporters at a news conference at Red Hen Bakery in Middlesex.

Business owners are split over a fast-tracked bill that aims to give more Vermont workers paid personal time off.

Depending on whom you ask, H.187 is either a business-friendly bill that lets sick workers stay home on occasion or a measure that would reward employees in their early 20s who skip work because they’re hung over.

The business owners who offered those competing visions spoke this week before the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs. The panel is scheduled to take testimony through today (Thursday) on the bill, which the House passed in April.

The legislation would grant most full- and part-time employees three to five days of paid time off to deal with illness or certain other family emergencies.

A sharp divide has formed between traditional business groups that oppose it — such as the Vermont Retail and Grocers Association and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce — and others, such as the Main Street Alliance and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility.

Under the proposed law, businesses of all sizes would be required to offer paid leave each year to their full- and part-time employees. They would offer up to three full days off (24 work hours) during the first two years the law is in effect and five days (or 40 hours) each year thereafter.

Employers could impose a waiting period to use that time off. The employer could make a worker wait until 1,400 hours worked or one year, whichever is shortest. That means part-timers would likely have to wait a year to use the time off, and full-time workers would likely wait nine months.

Under the law, employers would not be obligated to let workers accumulate more than the legally required number of days in a given year.

People could use the time to stay home sick; to take care of a sick child or other family member; to take care of a child whose school is closed, such as for a snow day; or to address life issues surrounding domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

Several categories of employees are exempt from the law, including nonunion state workers, seasonal workers, substitute teachers and certain home health workers. Businesses offering more generous time off would not have to increase the amount, although all businesses could be sued for retaliation if they refuse to allow someone to use the mandated time off.

Tags

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexual language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be proactive. Use the "Report" link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.