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Vermont (VT) Job Discrimination Law in the Workplace

September 21st, 2006 Posted by Rachel

All citizens should be afforded equal opportunities, especially when it comes to employment. You should not be segregated, separated or otherwise discriminated against because of certain characteristics. You should be free to work in a place that you will not be harassed or made to feel intimidated. There are both federal and state laws that employers are expected to follow in their employment practices. Along with the federal EEOC, most states have a specific department or agency dedicated to the education, regulation and enforcement of such laws. The state agency in Vermont is the Civil Rights Unit of the Vermont Attorney General’s Office or CRU.

Vermont (VT) job discrimination law in the workplace make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, place of birth, age (age 18 and over), handicap (disability) and HIV status. The state offers broader protection to the disabled than the federal statutes because it determines whether a disabled employee is eligible for legal protection without considering the mitigating measures taken by that employee to address his or her disability. The State anti-discrimination laws also apply to all employers regardless of size. The federal statutes do not apply to employers with less than 15 employees.

If you feel your rights under Vermont (VT) job discrimination law in the workplace, or if you are employed in a location with more than 15 employees and you feel your federal rights have been compromised or violated in any way you may file a complaint with the CRU. You have 300 days from the last date of the instance to take action. Since the state and federal agencies have a work sharing agreement, filing a claim with both agencies is unnecessary, as long as you indicate to one of the agencies that you want it to cross-file the claim with the other agency.