Vermont Passes Paid Sick Days Bill

Family Values @ Work congratulates Vermont on passage of paid sick days bill

Vermont poised to become the fifth state to pass paid sick days, furthering momentum around paid sick days and paid family leave

With today’s vote in the House, Vermont is poised to become the fifth state in the nation to pass legislation guaranteeing that workers can earn sick time. The Senate approved the bill earlier this week, and now that it has passed the House, it will be sent to Governor Peter Shumlin, who is expected to sign it. The bill would give workers across the state access to three paid sick days a year, phasing to five days in 2019. The law applies to all size businesses while exempting seasonal workers and those who work fewer than 18 hours a week.

Ellen Bravo, one of the foremost experts on paid sick days and paid family leave and executive director of Family Values @ Work, a network of coalitions in 23 states including Vermont, released the following statement:

“Today’s passage of paid sick days for Vermonters is a huge victory that will bolster the health and safety of families and communities throughout Vermont. Along with the 22 other coalitions in the Family Values @ Work network, I congratulate the Vermont coalition and Main Street Alliance of Vermont. Their persistence and leadership means Vermont workers won’t have to choose between earning a paycheck and being a good parent or following doctor’s orders. Vermont’s passage is further proof of the undeniable momentum for paid sick days sweeping the country, as more and more elected officials and candidates recognize this is a foundational element of a strong economy that works for everyone – and a winning political issue as well.”

Momentum around paid sick days is growing rapidly at the local, state and federal levels. Vermont joins four other states, one county and 24 cities that have already passed paid sick days laws, with more expected to join this year. Recent polls show that 85% of Americans support requiring employers to offer paid sick days to sick employees.

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Family Values @ Work is a network of coalitions in 23 states working to pass policies that value families at work such as paid sick days and affordable family leave.

CONTACT:
Margy Levinson, margy.levinson@berlinrosen.com, 646-335-0441
Leslie Patterson, leslie@berlinrosen.com, 646-200-5326