MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – There will soon be a new option for Vermonters to get family and medical leave insurance through their employers.
Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday announced the Vermont Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) program will launch in February with benefits beginning in July.
The voluntary program for employers is a partnership between the state of Vermont and the Hartford, a benefits and leave management provider.
The plans are flexible so employers can design plans to meet their needs. Benefits include partial income replacement for workers who take leave for familial or medical reasons. The contributions can be fully paid by the employer, split between the employer and employees, or fully paid for by the employees. There are duration options of six to 26 weeks per 12-month period, and 60%-70% wage replacement, with additional options available.
“Providing all Vermonters with access to affordable paid family and medical leave, without imposing a new mandatory tax, is truly a win-win,” Scott, R-Vermont, said in a statement. “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.”