Vermont's Earned Sick Time Act and Parental and Family Leave Act under 21 V.S.A. §472 and §472a establish statewide paid sick leave and unpaid family leave standards that govern Burlington employers, with no separate city ordinance.
Vermont workers accrue at least one hour of paid sick time per 52 hours worked, capped at 40 hours per year, usable for personal illness, family care, domestic violence, or public health closures. The Vermont Parental and Family Leave Act provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for employers with 10 or more workers for childbirth, adoption, or serious family illness. Burlington has not enacted a separate paid family leave ordinance, deferring to Vermont's statewide framework, which preempts local wage and hour mandates.
Vermont Department of Labor investigates complaints, ordering back leave, reinstatement, and penalties. Employers face civil fines and private actions for retaliation against workers using protected leave.
See how Burlington's paid leave preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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