Virginia has become the first state in the South to establish a paid family and medical leave program, Governor Abigail Spanberger announced yesterday at a worker roundtable in Manassas.
Beginning in 2028, most Virginia workers will have the right to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave to welcome a new child, care for a loved one, or recover from illness. Workers will receive approximately 80 percent of their average weekly wage, capped at the state's average weekly wage. The law covers more than three million Virginians and guarantees their right to return to their jobs.
"A paycheck should not stand in the way of Virginians being able to spend time with their loved ones, whether to care for a new child, recover from a serious illness, or tend to a family member in need," Spanberger said. Currently, an average Virginia worker taking four weeks of unpaid leave loses more than $3,600 in income.
The law protects workers at risk under federal law, which allows nearly half of U.S. workers to lose their jobs if they take family or medical leave. The program will be administered through the Virginia Employment Commission, with self-employed Virginians able to opt in and businesses able to continue offering private plans that meet state standards.
Separately, Virginia enacted a paid sick leave law effective in 2027, guaranteeing workers one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked—up to five days yearly. Approximately 1.2 million private-sector workers in the state currently lack access to paid sick leave.
The laws were sponsored by Senator Jennifer Boysko and Delegate Briana Sewell and signed by Spanberger earlier this year.