Labor & Employment (Employment Discrimination)

This bill (H.887) adds survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking to the definition of "crime victim" under Vermont's Fair Employment Practices Act. It directly affects these survivors by expanding their legal protections against employment discrimination. The key provision modifies the Act's definition to explicitly include these survivors, ensuring they are covered by existing anti-discrimination safeguards in the workplace. This change clarifies that employers cannot discriminate against individuals based on their status as survivors of these specific crimes. The bill focuses on updating definitions to align with current protections, not creating new employment rules.

H.149 expands Vermont's equal pay law to cover all protected classes under state fair employment practices, including sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and other characteristics like race, religion, and age. The bill prohibits employers from paying less for equal work based on these factors and allows pay differences only for legitimate reasons such as seniority, merit, or a business-related factor that doesn't perpetuate discrimination. It applies to all Vermont employers and takes effect on July 1, 2025. The law clarifies that employers cannot reduce other employees' wages to comply with the new requirements.