Vermont Statutes
Chapter 27 - State Employees Labor Relations Act
§ 973. Protected activity

§ 973. Protected activity
(a) A State agency, department, appointing authority, official, or employee shall not engage in retaliatory action against a State employee because the State employee refuses to comply with an illegal order or engages in any of the following:
(1) Providing to a public body a good faith report or good faith testimony that alleges an entity of State government, a State employee or official, or a person providing services to the State under contract has engaged in a violation of law or in waste, fraud, abuse of authority, or a threat to the health of employees, the public, or persons under the care of the State.
(2) Assisting or participating in a proceeding to enforce the provisions of this subchapter.
(b) No State agency, department, appointing authority, official, or employee shall attempt to restrict or interfere with, in any manner, a State employee’s ability to engage in any of the protected activity described in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) No State agency, department, appointing authority, or manager shall require any State employee to discuss or disclose his or her testimony, or intended testimony, prior to an employee’s appearance to testify before the general assembly if he or she is not testifying on behalf of an entity of State government.
(d) No employee may divulge information that is confidential under State or federal law. An act by which an employee divulges such information shall not be considered protected activity under this section.
(e) In order to establish a claim of retaliation based upon the refusal to follow an illegal order, the employee shall assert at the time of the refusal his or her good faith and reasonable belief that the order is illegal. (Added 2007, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 13, 2008.)

Structure Vermont Statutes

Vermont Statutes

Title 3 - Executive

Chapter 27 - State Employees Labor Relations Act

§ 901. Purpose

§ 902. Definitions

§ 903. Employees’ rights and duties; prohibited acts

§ 904. Subjects for bargaining

§ 905. Management rights

§ 906. Designation of managerial, supervisory, and confidential employees

§ 907. Designation of supervisory employees

§ 908. Designation of State’s Attorneys’ employees; statewide bargaining rights

§ 909. Access to new employees in bargaining unit

§ 910. Annual list of employees in bargaining unit

§ 911. Designation of deputy sheriffs paid by State; statewide bargaining rights

§ 921. Creation; membership; compensation

§ 922. Office space; employees

§ 923. Legal counsel

§ 924. Powers and duties

§ 925. Mediation; fact finding

§ 926. Grievances

§ 927. Appropriate unit

§ 928. Rules

§ 929. Records to be public

§ 941. Unit determination, certification, and representation

§ 942. Election conduct

§ 961. Employers

§ 962. Employees

§ 963. Membership; employees’ rights

§ 964. Business and products of other employers

§ 965. Prevention of unfair practices

§ 966. Freedom of expression

§ 971. Intent of subchapter

§ 972. Definitions

§ 973. Protected activity

§ 974. Communication with General Assembly

§ 975. Enforcement and preemption

§ 976. Remedies

§ 977. Posting

§ 978. Limitations of actions

§ 981. Good faith; failure to agree

§ 982. Agreements; limitations, renegotiation, and renewal

§ 1001. Grievances; applicants and excluded personnel

§ 1002. Enforcement

§ 1003. Judicial review; stay pending appeal

§ 1004. State Police

§ 1005. Administrative procedure laws; application

§ 1006. Short title

§ 1007. Separability

§ 1008. Contract ratification; annual vote