New Vermont Parental Leave, Family Leave and Short-Term Family Leave

On December 6, 2022, Gov. Scott announced that the State of Vermont has contracted with The Hartford to create the Vermont Family and Medical Leave Insurance Plan (VT-FMLI). Like the New Hampshire paid family and medical leave (PFML), only state employees are required to participate in VT-FMLI, and their benefits will start in July 2023. Private and non-state public employers with 10 or more employees who work an average of 30 hours/week may choose to participate in VT-FMLI's parental leave program. Private and non-state public employers with 15 or more employees may opt into VT-FMLI's family leave program beginning in 2024. On July 1, 2025, the program will expand to allow eligible individual employees, including self-employed Vermonters, to purchase from the VT-FMLI individual purchasing pool.

Below are the key highlights of VT-FMLI:

Timeline

• July 1, 2023: Benefits begin for the State of Vermont employees
• July 1, 2024: Private and non-state public employers may start voluntary participation
• July 1, 2025: Individual employees can begin purchasing VT-FMLI

Covered Employers and Individuals

• State of Vermont: Mandatory
• Private and non-state public employers (10+ employees for parental leave, 15+ employees for family leave): Voluntary
• Individual employees, including self-employed in Vermont (excluding the state employees): Voluntary

Eligibility to Take Leave

An employee who has worked for a covered employer an average of 30 hours per week for a year.

Qualified Reasons for Leave

1. Parental Leave
   Parental leave can be taken during the pregnancy and/or after childbirth or within a year following the initial placement of a child 16 years of age or younger with the employee for the purpose of adoption.

1. Family Leave
   Family leave can be taken for the serious illness of the worker, worker's child, stepchild, ward, foster child, party to a civil union, parent, spouse, or parent of the worker's spouse.

1. Short-Term Family Leave
   The qualifying reasons for short-term family leave include participating in preschool or school activities related to the academic advancement of the worker's child, stepchild, foster child or ward who lives with the worker. (For the full descriptions, please refer to the VT-FMLI Fact Sheet.)

Maximum Benefits Duration

Six weeks in a 12-month period.

(The VT-FMLI plans other than for the State of Vermont may be longer than the above duration. Details of the plan offerings have not yet been determined.)

Maximum Benefits Amount

60% of the employee's average weekly wages (capped at the Social Security Base Benefit Limit).

(The VT-FMLI plans other than for the State of Vermont may provide more benefits than the above percentage. Details of the plan offerings have not yet been determined.)