Virginia Enacts New Paid Sick Leave Law for Employers

Virginia Employers:

Employment law developments continue to be red hot. In the last month, we have updated our followers on significant updates relating to non-competes, pay transparency, and paid family leave.

Since these updates, Virginia has enacted a statewide paid sick leave mandate, joining the continuously growing list of states and localities requiring employers to provide employees with paid sick leave. Previously, Virginia state law only required paid sick leave for certain home healthcare workers.

Starting July 1, 2027, nearly all employers with employees in the state will be required to provide employees with paid sick leave. The law will require that employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours per year. There does not appear to be a limit on carryover of accrued, unused sick leave, but employers can cap sick leave usage at 40 hours per year. The law will become effective in phases as follows:

• 7/1/27: Employers with at least 50 employees are covered.
• 1/1/28: Employers with at least 25 employees are covered.
• 1/1/29: Employers with at least 1 employee are covered.

We expect further guidance and regulations related to these requirements to be issued closer to the law’s initial effective date. The law is available for review here: 1225763.PDF