Virginia’s new employment laws are getting ready to go into effect

Every July 1, after the Virginia Legislature has carefully debated thousands of bills, the bills that survive the scrutiny of both chambers and the governor go into effect. As this process plays out, employers need to be vigilant of any changes that may affect their business. This year, given the divide between the legislature and the governor, the changes to the labor and employment landscape are minimal.

New legislation

Despite bills seeking to raise the minimum wage, provide paid family leave, and enact other employee-friendly measures, few changes emerged from the 2024 legislative session. The new laws that did pass include a change to Virginia’s Human Rights Act and increased penalties for child labor violations.

Virginia’s Human Rights Act last received a major update in 2020. In 2024, the legislature added “ethnic origin” to the Act’s list of protected classes, along with its current protections from unlawful discrimination based on national origin, race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, and other protected classes. The addition of “ethnic origin” refers to the cultural or ethnic origins of a person’s ancestors.