2026 HR Compliance Guide
Vermont HR Compliance Deadlines for 2026
2 verified employment law changes affecting Vermont employers in 2026 — with effective dates, required actions, and penalties for non-compliance. Every entry cites an official government or agency source.
Vermont state law changes
Vermont Minimum Wage Increase to $14.42/hr
Vermont's minimum wage increases from $14.01 to $14.42 per hour on January 1, 2026, based on the annual CPI adjustment mandated by Act 166. The basic tipped wage rate also adjusts. Vermont's minimum wage is set to be no less than $0.25 above the federal rate with CPI indexing.
New: $14.42/hr (was $14.01/hr)
Applies to: All Vermont employers
What to do: Update payroll systems to $14.42/hr, adjust tipped employee base wages, update overtime calculations, and replace workplace wage postings.
Penalty: Back wages, penalties, and potential criminal fines
Vermont Saves — Penalty Escalates to Up to $75/Employee
Vermont Saves requires employers with 2+ employees, in business at least 2 years, and without a qualified retirement plan to facilitate the program. As the phased rollout progresses, the noncompliance penalty escalates: up to $20 per employee from Oct 1, 2025-Sept 30, 2026, then up to $75 per employee beginning October 1, 2026. Default is Roth IRA auto-enrollment with opt-out.
Applies to: Vermont employers with 2+ employees, in business 2+ years, no qualified retirement plan
What to do: If you have not already registered or certified exemption, complete Vermont Saves registration before October 1, 2026 to avoid the escalated per-employee penalty; register or certify exemption at vtsaves.vermont.gov.
Penalty: Up to $20/employee (through Sept 30, 2026), then up to $75/employee beginning Oct 1, 2026.
Federal deadlines that also apply
These federal requirements apply to Vermont employers alongside the state rules above.
Stay compliant — and turn it into recertification credits
Track every Vermont deadline on our free interactive compliance calendar, check how many HRCI or SHRM credits you still need with the Gap Planner, or start earning credits now with a free course.