Committee approves Pay Act H.950 to fund 5.9% (FY27) and 4.9% (FY28) salary increases, plans to include funding in budget The House Appropriations Committee voted to approve H.950, the Pay Act, which funds negotiated collective-bargaining salary increases: 5.9% in FY27 (split between July and January adjustments) and 4.9% in FY28. Executive, judicial and legislative branch appropriations and fiscal notes were discussed; the bill is expected to be inserted into the budget.

The House Appropriations Committee has just greenlit the Pay Act H.950, paving the way for significant salary increases for state employees—5.9% in FY27 and 4.9% in FY28!

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#VT #CollectiveBargaining #CitizenPortal #VermontStateEmployees #GovernmentTransparency

State employees urge bargaining on remote‑work rules as agency cites prior telework policy and pending labor board case State employees told the Senate Committee on Government Operations that the administration’s return‑to‑office rollout harmed morale, retention and people with caregiving or disability needs, and urged support for S.228 to require bargaining. Agency leaders said a 2012 telework policy exists and a Vermont Labor Relations Board proceeding is pending.

State employees are calling for urgent negotiations on remote work policies, citing significant drops in morale and equity concerns amid a hasty return-to-office rollout.

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#VT #EmployeeMorale #CitizenPortal #RemoteWorkBargaining #WorkplaceEquity #VermontStateEmployees

Senate committee considers bill to make remote-work standards a mandatory bargaining topic for state employees The Senate Committee on Government Operations reviewed S.228 on Feb. 17, 2026, which would add negotiation over remote, in-person and hybrid work standards to the State Employee Labor Relations Act; lawmakers raised concerns about inconsistent implementation, childcare impacts and workplace morale and asked administration and employee representatives to testify next week.

A new bill aims to make remote work standards a must-negotiate topic for Vermont state employees, addressing concerns over inconsistent policies and the impact on caregivers and morale.

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#VT #RemoteWorkStandards #CitizenPortal #WorkplaceEquity #VermontStateEmployees

Senate committee weighs broad expansion of ‘group G’ retirement benefits in S.295 amid fiscal and legal cautions The Senate Government Operations committee considered S.295, a bill that would move several state positions — including all classified DCF employees and certain fire and training roles — into the enhanced 'group G' retirement tier; witnesses urged narrower drafting, an actuarial study, and correction of a possible deletion of a 25% disability minimum.

Vermont lawmakers are debating a major expansion of retirement benefits that could transform the future for frontline state employees, but fiscal caution is raising red flags.

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#VT #PublicServiceJobs #CitizenPortal #RetirementBenefits #VermontStateEmployees

VSEA tells Senate panel return-to-office mandate risks losing employees and could cost taxpayers $3 million in Waterbury leases VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard urged the Senate Government Operations Committee to scrutinize the administration's return-to-office policy, saying it disproportionately harms out-of-county workers, may force staff departures, and will require roughly $3,000,000 in leased Waterbury office space if enforced.

Vermont's return-to-office mandate could cost taxpayers $3 million and drive experienced workers away, raising serious concerns about employee satisfaction and rights.

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#VT #WorkersRights #BudgetAccountability #CitizenPortal #RemoteWorkPolicy #VermontStateEmployees

Senator White praises remote work benefits during legislative committee meeting Senator White highlights remote work's advantages for state employees and family balance.

Vermont's Senate is championing remote work policies that could revolutionize productivity and work-life balance for state employees!

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#VT #VermontStateEmployees #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency #RemoteWork #WorkLifeBalance

Montana Legislature enacts Senate Bill 418 linking employee raises to health plan reforms Montana addresses projected $9M deficit by overhauling state employee health plan funding.

Vermont is facing a looming $9 million deficit in state employee health plans, sparking urgent calls for reform and innovative funding solutions.

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#VT #VermontStateEmployees #FinancialSustainability #HealthcareReform #PublicPolicy #CitizenPortal

VSEA urges quicker resolution for employee misconduct investigations in state government VSEA advocates for time limits on misconduct investigations to reduce employee uncertainty.

Vermont’s state employees are caught in a web of misconduct allegations and endless investigations—how can the system change for the better?

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#VT #VermontStateEmployees #WorkplaceFairness #CitizenPortal #GovernmentAccountability #EmployeeSupport