Virginia Enacts $15 Minimum Wage, 12-Week Paid Leave and New Noncompete Curbs
Updated
Updated · The National Law Review · Jun 2
Virginia Enacts $15 Minimum Wage, 12-Week Paid Leave and New Noncompete Curbs
3 articles · Updated · The National Law Review · Jun 2
Virginia has enacted a broad employment package that raises the minimum wage to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2028 and creates new paid sick, family and medical leave rights.
The new laws also bar many noncompete agreements for healthcare professionals and for discharged workers without severance, while adding salary-history bans and pay-range disclosure requirements in job postings.
Paid sick leave will accrue at 1 hour per 30 worked, capped at 40 hours annually, with coverage starting July 1, 2027 for employers with at least 50 workers; most pay-transparency and noncompete changes take effect July 1, 2026.
Virginia’s payroll-funded family and medical leave program will provide up to 12 weeks at 80% of average weekly pay, with contributions beginning April 1, 2028 and benefits starting Dec. 1, 2028.
The package also expands human-rights coverage to employers with 5 or more workers and requires insurance coverage for medically necessary menopause and perimenopause treatment from Jan. 1, 2027.
Virginia's new laws boost worker pay and leave. Can the state's small businesses actually afford to comply?
Virginia now requires salary ranges on job ads. Will this truly end pay discrimination or just create new loopholes for employers?
Virginia just banned noncompetes for all healthcare workers. Will this trigger a 'great resignation' among doctors and nurses?
Transforming Virginia’s Workforce: 2026 Noncompete Ban, Paid Family Leave, and Key Employment Law Changes
Overview
In 2026, Virginia is enacting landmark employment reforms that aim to foster greater economic security for employees, enhance worker mobility, and ensure fairness across the labor market. These changes include adjustments to the minimum wage to help more Virginians earn a living wage, the introduction of paid family and medical leave to support workers during health crises, and new restrictions on noncompete agreements. Together, these reforms are designed to create a more equitable and dynamic working environment for all residents, addressing long-standing issues and adapting to the evolving nature of work in the Commonwealth.