2025 Vermont Statutes
Title 21 - Labor
Chapter 5 - Employment Practices
§ 499. Jurors and witnesses
§ 499. Jurors and witnesses
(a)(1) An employer shall not discharge an employee because of the employee’s service as a juror, or penalize the employee or deprive the employee of any right, privilege, or benefit in a manner that discriminates between the employee and other employees not serving as jurors.
(2) All employees shall be considered in the service of their employer during all times while serving as jurors in accordance with this section for purposes of determining seniority, fringe benefits, credit toward vacations, and other rights, privileges, and benefits of employment.
(b)(1) An employer shall not discharge an employee by reason of the employee’s absence from work while in attendance as a witness pursuant to a summons duly issued and served in any proceeding, civil or criminal, in any court of competent jurisdiction within or outside the State, or in any other proceeding before a board, commission, attorney, or other person or tribunal in the State authorized by law to hear testimony under oath.
(2) An employer shall not penalize an employee or deprive the employee of any right, privilege, or benefit in a manner that discriminates between the employee and other employees not appearing as witnesses.
(3) All employees shall be considered in the service of their employer while appearing as witnesses in accordance with this section for purposes of determining seniority, fringe benefits, credit toward vacations, and other rights, privileges, and benefits of employment.
(c) A person who violates a provision of this section shall be fined not more than $200.00. (Added 1969, No. 228 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. March 31, 1970; amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 111, eff. July 1, 2024.)
