Vermont Amends Its Parental and Family Leave Act, Effective July 1

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Patricia Tsipras

June 18, 2025

Vermont recently amended its Parental and Family Leave Act to expand employees’ access to unpaid leave to include bereavement, safe leave related to domestic violence, and leave for a qualifying military exigency.  The amendments also broaden the definition of “family member” to be more inclusive of diverse family structures and reduces the minimum hours worked required for eligibility.  The amendments are effective on July 1, 2025.

A Refresher on Vermont’s Parental and Family Leave Act (Act)
In general, the Act provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for an employee’s own serious health condition, the serious illness of a family member, pregnancy, childbirth, and adoption.  The Act also provides for short-term family leave for specific activities, like school meetings, medical appointments, and emergencies.

Expanded Qualifying Reasons for Leave
The recent amendments to the Act expand the qualifying reasons for leave to include:

1. Bereavement Leave: The Act now provides bereavement leave up to two weeks, with a maximum of five consecutive days.
2. Safe Leave: Employees may take leave if they, or a family member, are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
3. Qualifying Exigency Leave: Leave also is available for qualifying military exigencies.

Broader Definition of “Family Member”
The recent amendments to the Act broaden the definition of “family member” to be more inclusive of diverse family structures.  “Family member” now includes individuals in loco parentis (i.e., the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent), domestic partners, and those with similar caregiving responsibilities.

Reduced Eligibility Threshold
The recent amendments to the Act make more part-time employees eligible for leave, as it reduces the minimum hours worked requirement from 1,250 to 1,000 hours in the past 12 months.

Vermont Employer Takeaways
With the Act’s amendments, Vermont seeks to broaden access to unpaid leave.  Take this time to review and update your leave policies and practices to ensure compliance.  In addition, train your Human Resource professionals and managers on the Act’s amendments.

The author of this article, Patricia Tsipras, is a member of the Bar  of Pennsylvania.  This article is designed to provide one perspective regarding recent legal developments, and is not intended to serve as legal advice in Pennsylvania, Vermont, or any other jurisdiction, nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship with any reader of the article where one does not exist.  Always consult an attorney with specific legal issues.