Press release from Gov. Phil Scott’s office
Governor Phil Scott and The Hartford, a leading provider of employee benefits and leave management, will begin offering the Vermont Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) program for employers on February 15. Employers with two or more employees will have the opportunity to design a plan to fit the needs of their employees and business, with benefits beginning on July 1.
“Providing all Vermonters with access to affordable paid family and medical leave, without imposing a new mandatory tax, is truly a win-win,” said Governor Scott. “I’m excited to move forward with this new phase of the Vermont Family and Medical Leave initiative and look forward to Vermonters benefitting from the program for years to come.”
The FMLI benefits provide partial income replacement for workers who need to take care of a family member with a serious health condition, bond with a new child, tend to their own serious health condition, care for a military service member’s serious injury or illness, or address certain needs related to a family member’s covered active military duty or call to active duty.
The FMLI plans are flexible, which allow employers who opt in to design a plan that best meets the needs of their business and employees. Some key features include:
- Option to provide family and medical leave combined or stand-alone family leave insurance;
- Contributions can be fully paid by the employer, split between the employer and employees, or fully paid for by the employees as a voluntary benefit;
- Benefit duration options of six to 26 weeks per 12-month period; and
- Sixty to 70% wage replacement, with additional options available with underwriting review.
The first phase of the program was implemented for Vermont State employees in July 2023. In the final phase of the program, FMLI benefits will be made available for individual workers in the state of Vermont who do not have access to them through their employer, self-employed individuals and employers with fewer than two employees, to purchase in 2025 with benefits beginning on July 1, 2025.
Employers in Vermont can work with their employee benefit brokers to learn more about the Vermont FMLI program or visit https://fmli.thehartford.com.
The Hartford is a leading provider of employee benefits products and services, including leave management, group life and disability insurance, as well as other voluntary products. For more information, visit www.thehartford.com/groupbenefits.
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Categories: Press Release
One good thing, it’s not based on taxes, but give them time. When tax supported employers have to figure out how to pay for the part of the benefit they so generously provide, it may change.
This bill is incredibly unfair to very small businesses.
One more way to allow people to get free money. Money used to be worked for, earned you know, it had a value to it, interpreted as hours worked or service supplied something valuable produced. You needed to produce something to get a benefit. Not any more, unless the ultimate goal is it is in exchange for votes.
Well you can’t work enough hours to make enough money anymore so they have to give it away for free.
What is missing? The cost of coverage. The employer is directed to contact a broker for a quote. How many employers will opt to pay the full premium? How will employers choose which peter to rob to pay this paul? How will employees manage another ding to their paycheck? I guess the feel good notion is the option is there and it’s up to the peasants to figure out how to pay for it. Not to mention the employees who will be picking up the slack when their coworker is on leave. Has anyone noticed the backlog and lack of response due to the ongoing COVID fiascos from three years ago? Good times!