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State Labor Law Guide

Vermont
Labor Laws

What workers in Vermont need to know about minimum wage, overtime, breaks, and their rights when an employer has not paid them fairly.

VT VERMONT
$14.42
Minimum Wage
$21.63
Overtime Rate
No
Mandated Breaks
2-3 Years
Claim Deadline
FLSA
Governing Law

Minimum Wage $14.42 / HR

Vermont follows the federal rate for minimum wage. The minimum wage in Vermont is $14.42.

Tipped employees may be paid a lower base wage, but only if those tips bring the total hourly rate up to $14.42. When they do not, the employer is required to make up the difference.

Overtime Laws 1.5X RATE

Vermont generally follows the FLSA. They do not have any municipal or state specific laws.

Overtime is calculated on a weekly basis. Working long hours on a single day does not trigger overtime unless total hours for the entire week exceed 40. The workweek can be any fixed recurring period of seven consecutive days.

Exempt employees, those classified as executive, administrative, or professional under the FLSA are not entitled to overtime. That classification depends on actual job duties and salary level, not job title alone.

Meal & Rest Breaks No mandated breaks

Most states, including Vermont follow the FLSA which does not mandate breaks for adults.

When an employer does provide a short break of 20 minutes or less, federal law generally requires that time to be paid. A meal period of 30 minutes or more is typically unpaid, provided the employee is fully relieved of duties for the entire period.

Filing a Claim 2-3 YEAR WINDOW

Vermont workers have a two-year time limit to file claims for unpaid overtime and minimum wage violations under the FLSA. When an employer's violation was willful, meaning they knew or it was done on purpose, that limit extends to three years.

Important: The clock for the time limit starts from the date the wages should have been paid, not the date the worker discovered the violation. Waiting too long can mean that your case is no longer valid, or that the amount of money you're able to recover gets smaller as time goes by.

Employee Misclassification COMMON VIOLATION

Some Vermont employers label workers as independent contractors or exempt employees to avoid paying overtime. What your job says alone does not determine the legal classification. What matters is the actual working relationship and the day-to-day duties of the job.

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This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship with Josephson Dunlap LLP. Wage and hour laws vary by state, and the application of these laws depends on the specific facts of each situation. The figures and information cited above are current as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Prior results in other matters do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter. If you believe your wages were not paid correctly, consult a qualified, licensed employment attorney.