Vermont Paid Family Leave

Vermont PFMLI began July 1, 2023, with mandatory paid leave for state employees and a voluntary option for non-state employers, self-employed individuals (SEI’s) and eligible individual employees. On July 1, 2024, the program expanded to private and non-state public employers with 2 or more employees (Phase 2). The program expanded to small employers with 1 employee and eligible individual employees, including the self-employed, on July 1, 2025 (Phase 3).

Covered Leaves and Durations

The maximum amount of combined family and medical leave that an individual may take is 6 weeks in a 12-month period.

Weekly Benefit Amount

The benefit covers 60% of an individual's average weekly wage up a maximum of $2,031.92.

Waiting Period

There is a seven calendar day benefit waiting period for an employee’s own medical leave (PML), but no waiting period for PFL.

Intermittent Leaves

Intermittent leave may be taken in hours or days. Leaves are also permitted for a reduced work schedule measured in hours or days.

Covered Employees

The program will cover state employees automatically.

There are no specific eligibility requirements for employees of private and non-state public employers. Employees can choose to purchase benefits either from their employer, if available, or from the VT FMLI individual purchasing pool if coverage is not available through their employer. Participants in the Individual Purchasing Program have an eligibility waiting period of six months after enrollment.

Family Members

Family means:

• A spouse (including domestic partner or civil union partner)
• A biological child, adopted or foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward, or a child to whom the employee acted in place of a parent when the child was a minor (under age 18)
• The employee’s or spouse’s biological, adoptive, step or foster mother or father or any other individual who acted in place of a parent to the employee or spouse when they were children
• Next of kin as defined in the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Plan Administration

The Hartford is the state’s chosen insurance carrier partner to offer VT FMLI benefits. Employers may self-insure coverage, but may not obtain private insured plans from other carriers.

Funding

For state employees, coverage is mandatory and contributory.

Private employers may pay the full premium, share the cost with employees, or pass the full cost on to employees. There is no maximum employee contribution identified by the state. Contribution rates are specific to each individual employer or employee plan.

Additional Information Employers Need to Know

VT FMLI runs concurrently with federal FMLA, VT Family and Parental Leave Law, and any similar employer-sponsored leaves. An employer’s STD plan, if applicable, also integrates with VT FMLI. State employees can supplement their VT FMLI with accrued leave time. Other employers may choose whether or not to allow employees to use accrued leave time based on their company policies.

More Information

Visit the Governor’s announcement about the launch of the VT PFML plan to learn more.