Virginia enacts paid family and medical leave
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed landmark legislation on May 11 that creates a paid family and medical leave program.
Some 3 million workers will now be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave to welcome a new baby, recover from a serious illness, care for a loved one, or meet the unique needs of military families.
Virginia is now the first state in the South to provide paid family and medical leave, Spanberger said at the bill signing ceremony.
“We are empowering millions of Virginia parents and workers with the security, dignity, and peace of mind they deserve,” she said. “No one should have to choose between spending time with their newborn and paying their bills. No one should have to drain their savings or fall behind on rent because a loved one gets sick. And no one should be forced to return to work while facing a serious illness.”
Spanberger also said the bill will also benefit small and mid-sized businesses by allowing them to offer employees competitive benefits they couldn’t previously afford.
Under the new law, Virginia workers – including part-time workers and small business employees – who qualify for paid medical or family leave will receive approximately 80 percent of their average weekly wage, capped at 100 percent of the state’s average weekly wage.
Currently, the average Virginia worker who takes four weeks of unpaid leave loses more than $3,600 in income.
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Paid family and medical leave has been a long time coming. Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax) has been working on getting this legislation passed for eight years.
The program will be administered through the Virginia Employment Commission.
Self-employed Virginians will have the option to enroll in the program, and Virginia businesses will be able to continue offering private paid family and medical leave plans that meet minimum requirements under the new law.
The program will be funded through a small payroll contribution by covered employers and employees.
Payroll contributions will begin on April 1, 2028. Benefits will be available on Dec. 1, 2028.