Virginia Signs Statewide Paid Sick Leave Law

Overview

• Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed the law on Thursday, creating a statewide paid sick-leave minimum that will be phased in by employer size beginning July 1, 2027 for firms with 50 or more workers.
• Covered employees will accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours each year, and may use it for their own illness, medical appointments, mental health, caring for certain family or household members, and safety-related needs.
• The law funds 14 new Department of Labor and Industry positions to handle an estimated 10,000 annual inquiries and 3,500 complaints, and authorizes tiered civil penalties of $150, $300, and $500 for repeat violations.
• Business groups and some lawmakers say the measure will raise payroll and administrative costs for employers, and they warn that broad definitions of terms like 'family member' and 'affinity' will require regulatory clarification to avoid compliance and litigation problems.
• The new sick-leave mandate builds on Virginia’s recent Paid Family and Medical Leave law and aims to extend protections to roughly 1.2 million private-sector workers who previously lacked paid sick leave.