Penalties, lawsuits, and a three-year rollout – here is what HR needs ready first
Virginia employers face a new paid sick leave mandate, and the first compliance deadline is closer than many may realize.
The General Assembly approved the law on May 20, 2026, adding paid sick leave to the state code. It takes effect July 1, 2027, and rolls out by company size. Businesses with at least 50 employees are covered first. On January 1, 2028, the threshold falls to 25. A year later, on January 1, 2029, it reaches every employer with at least one worker. The state government and its agencies are covered too.
The mechanics are straightforward. Employees earn a minimum of one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours they work. That leave carries over from year to year, though employers can cap accrual and use at 40 hours annually unless they opt for something more generous. Accrual begins on the first day of employment. Employers can also simply grant the full 40 hours up front and meet the requirement that way.
What the leave covers should be on every HR leader's radar. Workers can use it for their own illness or preventive care, for the same needs of a family member, or for time away tied to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Virginia defines family expansively – children, parents, spouses, domestic partners, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and anyone whose bond with the employee is the equivalent of family.
Several rules will reshape day-to-day practice....
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