This commentary is by Emmett Avery of Burlington. He manages the Vermont Paid Leave Coalition, an organization of over 80 businesses, nonprofits and everyday Vermonters working to ensure no one has to choose between making a living and caring for themselves or their loved ones.
Caring for a sick parent, settling a loved one’s estate, or escaping abuse are some of life’s most difficult experiences. No one should lose their job for facing them.
Thanks to the recent tripartisan passage of H.461, more Vermonters won’t have to. This new law expands access to job-protected leave, so more people can care for themselves and their family without risking their livelihoods.
For over 30 years, Vermont has guaranteed many workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off to care for themselves or a loved one during serious health events or when welcoming a new child. This bill strengthens and expands those protections.
The new law recognizes that family comes in many forms and broadens eligibility accordingly, particularly by updating definitions to better include LGBTQ+ families. H.461 also adds important new protected categories to Vermont’s unpaid leave statute, including bereavement leave, safe leave and military leave.
The bereavement provision allows workers time to grieve, attend a funeral or settle affairs after the death of a loved one. Safe leave ensures survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking can take time off to heal or seek safety without fear of job loss. The military leave provision supports workers dealing with needs related to a family member’s military service.
Though modest in scope, this law will have a profound impact on those it protects.
It strengthens what makes Vermont strong: our shared commitment to fairness, justice, and dignity in our workplaces and communities. It means more families can be there for one another. It means those experiencing loss have the space to mourn and begin to heal. It means survivors can prioritize safety without risking their job.
Thank you to the Vermont Legislature for passing this bill, and to Gov. Phil Scott for signing it. These protections offer relief during some of life’s hardest moments — and that matters.
But we can and must build on this success.
While this legislation ensures more Vermonters can return to their jobs after taking unpaid leave, far too many still can’t afford to take that leave at all. Roughly 76% of Vermont’s workforce lacks access to paid leave through their employer, and each year, Vermont workers lose an estimated $85 million in wages due to unpaid or underpaid leave.
That number does not begin to account for the hardship faced by those forced to put off critical healthcare, rush back to work after childbirth or stay with an abusive partner simply because they cannot survive without the income.
Beyond the toll on individuals and families, this weakens our communities and Vermont’s economy. Lost wages and lost jobs mean less spending at local businesses, less saving for retirement, fewer people in our workforce and more stress for folks already stretched to the breaking point.
This is why the Vermont Paid Leave Coalition continues to urge lawmakers and the governor to enact a strong paid leave program for all working Vermonters: because no one should have to choose between making a living and caring for themselves or their loved ones.
While H.461 isn’t the comprehensive solution we need, it’s a meaningful step forward. By passing H.461, lawmakers have helped ensure fewer Vermonters are forced to choose between their jobs and their families.
That’s a victory worth celebrating — and building on.
