AUGUSTA – The Maine Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development heard public testimony Wednesday on a bill to change a law that prevents laid off workers from collecting unemployment if they are owed vacation pay. House Majority Leader Erin Herbig, D-Belfast, introduced the legislation.

“This problem is far more common than you think,” Herbig said, in a news release.

“Imagine you are loyal to your employer and don’t take any vacations. Meanwhile, your coworker takes every vacation day available to him. Then, you both get laid off. Your co-worker gets to receive his unemployment check immediately. You however are told that the vacation time you have earned and rolled over for years is being taken away from you in exchange for an unemployment check.”

In 2011, Maine law was changed so that a person who has vacation pay in excess of four weeks’ wages is disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits for the week that payment is due. This bill removes that disqualification and allows them to collect unemployment at the same time as their coworkers who used their vacation days.

“This law puts people who have been most loyal to their employers at a disadvantage during an already trying time. It kicks people when they are down,” said Herbig. “This bill is a smart fix to make sure Maine workers’ earned pay is protected.”

House Majority Leader Erin Herbig is currently serving her fourth term in the Maine House of Representatives. She represents House District 97, which includes Belfast, Northport and Waldo.