What if an employee becomes pregnant?Pregnancy or childbirth may limit a woman’s ability to perform a job. Under Act 21, employers must provide reasonable accommodations to such women, unless those accommodations would be an undue hardship on the employer. What if the job involves heavy lifting?The employer must provide reasonable accommodations, such as providing lifting… Continue reading Pregnant employees (effective 1/1/18)
Equipment leases
What is an equipment lease?The most common complaints received by CAP from business consumers involve credit card equipment leases. The leases are generally financed by third parties. An “independent” salesperson works to sell you, the business consumer, a lease. Typically, credit card machines cost less than $500. Yet, in the typical credit card equipment lease,… Continue reading Equipment leases
Nursing moms in the workplace
Does a nursing parent have rights to pump breast milk in the workplace?Yes. The Legislature granted parents and babies such rights in 2013. This right exists for the first three years after birth of the child. The usual term for pumping breast milk is “to express” breast milk. Why does the Legislature care about breast-feeding?Research has… Continue reading Nursing moms in the workplace
Paid sick leave
Why did the Legislature require paid leave? The Legislature found that paid sick leave would provide a healthier work environment for all Vermonters. However, about half of private-sector employees—60,000—lacked paid sick leave. These Vermonters were generally employees of Vermont small businesses. What employers does this law cover? Almost all employers are covered. There are some… Continue reading Paid sick leave
Gift certificates
What is a gift certificate? Vermont’s definition of a gift certificate is very broad, and includes both traditional paper gift certificates and the increasingly common plastic gift cards similar to credit cards. The Vermont definition of a gift certificate is “a record evidencing a promise made for consideration by the seller or issuer of the… Continue reading Gift certificates