VRA in the News

FAQ's

We are here to help!
One of the perks of your membership is the ability to ask us questions. Please feel free to review our Frequently Asked Questions page or call us directly at 800-649-1698. Our talented staff will do their absolute best to answer any question, no matter how broad or unique, concerning doing business in Vermont. We are here to help so please use this resource to answer any questions you or your business may have.

Where can I find information about the Department of Labor?
www.labor.vermont.gov

Where can I find information about our business taxes?
http://www.state.vt.us/tax/business.shtml

What are the workers compensation rules?
http://www.labor.vermont.gov/Portals/0/WP%20Safety/Rules%201-46%204%2006.pdf

What is the minimum wage in VT?
Effective 1/1/2008
7.68 per hour

3.72 per hour- service or tipped employee

3.96 per hour- service or tipped employee who gets maximum tip credit

What hours are employees under 18 allowed to work?
Fourteen and fifteen year-old minors may not be employed:
1. During school hours. (Exceptions are provided for minors employed pursuant to a work experience and career exploration [WECEP] program for batboys and batgirls, and for performers and actors in motion pictures, theatrical productions, radio and television.)
2. Before 7 AM or after 7 PM. (after 9:00 p.m. between June 1st and Labor Day)
3. More than three hours per day, on school days.
4. More than eight hours per day, on non-school days.
5. More than 18 hours per week, in school weeks.
6. More than 40 hours per week, in non-school weeks.
7. More than six days in a week.

How do I set up an unemployment account?
Before setting up an Unemployment Tax account, it is important to determine if you are liable for Unemployment Coverage. Further information about liability is provided under the "Related Links" in the right hand pane of this web page. If you want to set up an Unemployment Tax account, complete and submit the C-1 Status Report. If you have questions about this form or process, please contact our Employer Services Unit at (802)828-4344.

Where can I find the employer information manual?

http://labor.vermont.gov/Portals/0/UI/A-26%20Employer%20Manual.pdf

What is project workSAFE and how can they help my company?
Project workSAFE provides free consultation services that will tell you what areas of you work environment are not safe for workers. If you are concerned about safety, deal with hazardous waste, or have trouble complying with OSHA regulations then calling them could be very beneficial to you. The number is 1-888-SAFE-YES

Q: I just received a charge from my bank because a customer put a stop payment on her check when she lost her purse. Isn’t this charge prohibited by state law?
A: No, this charge is not prohibited. Vermont law does however prohibit returned check charges or similar charges against a depositor for checks returned for nonsufficient funds by the institution upon which it was drawn. This prohibition applies to Vermont chartered banks, not those that are federally chartered. We may be the only state in the country that does not allow banks to charge depositors for NSF checks. This is a great example of how the VRA can bring about legislative changes that positively impact your business.

Q: Are there specific requirement for breaks or lunch breaks that I need to give my employees?
A: The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record-keeping and child labor standards. There are a number of employment practices which the FLSA does not require: 1) vacation, holiday, severance, or sick pay; 2) meal or rest periods; 3) premium pay for weekend or holiday work; or 4) pay raises or fringe benefits.
Vermont law, 21 V.S.A. section 304 does require that an employer provide an employee with reasonable opportunities during work periods to eat and use toilet facilities in order to protect the health and hygiene of the employee.
Furthermore, employee breaks must be paid unless they are thirty minutes or longer. Title 29 part 785 of the FLSA states that rest periods of short duration running from 5 minutes to about 20 minutes are common and must be counted as hours worked. Bona fide meal times where the employee is completely relieved from duties which are usually 30 minutes or more are not work time and so do not have to be paid.

Q: Do I have to give a customer his money back for a custom ordered chair?
A: The Attorney General’s consumer fraud rule addresses refund policies made. But custom ordered sounds like special ordered and so the custom made exemption probably would not apply. You would have to give a refund unless your refund policy stated otherwise and the policy was properly disclosed.
According to Rule CF 106, Disclosure of Refund Policy, "It shall constitute an unfair and deceptive trade act and practice in commerce under 9 V.S.A. section 2453 (a) for a seller to refuse to make a cash refund on cash sales or credit the customer’s account on credit sales of non-defective, unused goods purchased at a seller’s place of business and returned within a reasonable time from the date of purchase unless the seller discloses at the time of sale that no cash refund will be made on the goods or that cash refunds are made at the sole discretion of the seller. Disclosure of such refund policy must be conspicuously placed on a sign located at the point of display, the cash register, or the store entrance."
The exemptions to this rule, per CF 106.02 are: "the sale of food items, perishable items, items in substantial part custom-made or custom-finished, and items which by law cannot be resold, even if unused."

Q: In order to promote my business, I would like to offer the chance to win a large prize if a customer purchases a certain amount of goods in my store. Is this contest ok?
A: Consumer Fraud Rule 109 regarding Contests, states: "It shall constitute an unfair and deceptive trade act and practice in commerce under 9 V.S.A. section 2453(a) for any person to solicit any person to engage in any kind of game of skill, contest sweepstakes, give-away or other promotion which: (a) is deceptive or misleading as to chances of winning, the number of winners, the value of the prizes, or the availability of the prize; (b) requires any kind of entry fee, service charge, purchase or similar consideration in order to enter or to continue to remain eligible; or, (c) uses publications, literature, written or verbal promotion that is false, deceptive or misleading.
If your proposed promotion would require a purchase in order to enter the give-away as described in (b), then you’ve got your answer.

* (This information is to be used as a guide. It is not intended to list all of your legal rights and responsibilities. You should consult your attorney on any legal matter.)