Lawmakers again reject ‘Sodexo’ employee protection bill

MONTPELIER, Vt. — For the second consecutive year, state lawmakers have turned down a so-called "Sodexo Bill".

The legislation was designed to protect employees who use a company benefit -- like a vacation or sick day -- from retribution from their employer.

It got its name after Sodexo food service workers at the University of Vermont claimed they were penalized for taking sick days to which they were entitled.

"There are some practices go beyond the pale," said Sen. Phil Baruth, the majority leader who sponsored the bill and who teaches at UVM. "Promising someone a sick day, having them earn it according to your policy, and use it according to policy and then firing them -- that's beyond the pale."

The Vermont Senate passed the legislation last year but it later stalled in the House by a single vote.

On Tuesday, the Senate took it up for a vote once again but a coordinated lobbying effort by a range of business groups appeared effective in raising doubts about the measure.

"The burden could be shifted in ways we couldn't anticipate to Vermont employers," said Sen. Jane Kitchel, a Caledonia County Democrat who said she worried about 'unintended consequences.'

"There were a number of concerns," said Bill Driscoll, a lobbyist with Associated Industries of Vermont. "Would the legislation create a cause of action if any employee was fired or otherwise penalized at work? They could cite this law and claim the reason they were let go was because they'd taken a given sick day or some other benefit."