Anti-Retaliatory Bill Passes Key Committee

Tuesday, May 1, 2018 | 0

A bill that would prohibit retaliatory action against employees who file a workers' compensation claim has passed a key state Senate committee.

Sen. Michael Sirotkin

HB 731 passed the Vermont House in March, and was reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs. It now goes to the House Committee on Finance, said state Sen. Michael Sirotkin, D-South Burlington, chair of the economic development committee.

The measure would prohibit employers from firing or discriminating against workers who file claims for benefits, and would bar the state Department of Labor from publishing the name of any worker who alleges that an employer has provided false information or has misclassified workers.

The bill also would keep the contribution rate, or a surcharge paid by employers covered by commercial insurance, at 1.4% for another year. The rate for self-insured employers would remain at 1%, the bill reads.