Vermont Labor Board Rejects State's Request to Pause Return-to-Office Ban
The Vermont Labor Relations Board has denied Governor Phil Scott’s administration request to pause an order that blocks the mandatory return-to-office policy for state employees. The board previously ruled in April that the state must rescind the requirement for employees to work on-site three days a week, a policy challenged by the Vermont State Employees’ Association. While rejecting the broader stay, the board agreed to temporarily pause a provision requiring reimbursement for staff financial losses, as this specific point was not contested by the union. The state argued that enforcing the order would cause irreparable harm due to leased office space costs and administrative confusion. However, the board stated that any financial disruption is a result of the state’s own actions and that ambiguity does not constitute irreparable harm. The dispute is now heading to the Vermont Supreme Court, which has expedited the appeal process with a hearing scheduled for June 18. Union leaders celebrated the decision as a victory for flexible work arrangements, while the governor’s office continues to review the ruling.
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Vermont Labor Board Rejects State's Request to Pause Return-to-Office Ban
The Vermont Labor Relations Board has denied Governor Phil Scott’s administration request to pause an order that blocks the mandatory return-to-office policy for state employees. The board previously ruled in April that the state must rescind the requirement for employees to work on-site three days a week, a policy challenged by the Vermont State Employees’ Association. While rejecting the broader stay, the board agreed to temporarily pause a provision requiring reimbursement for staff financial losses, as this specific point was not contested by the union. The state argued that enforcing the order would cause irreparable harm due to leased office space costs and administrative confusion. However, the board stated that any financial disruption is a result of the state’s own actions and that ambiguity does not constitute irreparable harm. The dispute is now heading to the Vermont Supreme Court, which has expedited the appeal process with a hearing scheduled for June 18. Union leaders celebrated the decision as a victory for flexible work arrangements, while the governor’s office continues to review the ruling.
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