Governor Spanberger Thanks Working Virginians, Highlights New Worker Protections on Labor Day

RICHMOND, VA - Governor Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement on Labor Day, thanking working Virginians for their contributions to the Commonwealth and highlighting the landmark worker protections she and the General Assembly are delivering. The Governor also issued a proclamation recognizing Labor Day in Virginia.

"This Labor Day, I am grateful for Virginia's workers. Every day, Virginians get up and go to work caring for our neighbors, building our communities, educating our children, keeping businesses moving, protecting our workplaces, strengthening our economy, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

"As Governor, I have been proud to deliver real results for workers. Virginia is establishing a program to give workers the right to take paid leave for a new baby or a family illness without losing their paycheck - a first for any state in the South. We are making clear that a fair day's work comes with the dignity of being able to stay home when you are sick or need to care for a sick family member. We also ended non-competes that kept nurses and doctors from taking a better job, banned employers from using workers' previous salaries to pay them less than they deserve, and will be raising the statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour.

"Virginia has always been a place where working Virginians advocate for progress. Thank you to everyone who is helping us deliver real, deeply impactful results for our neighbors. As reckless decisions in Washington have made life less predictable and more expensive for working families, I will continue to stand alongside Virginians and stand up for our Commonwealth.

"To every working Virginian - thank you. I am honored to serve you, and I am wishing you a safe and meaningful Labor Day."

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This year, Governor Spanberger signed dozens of bills to support workers and strengthen protections for working Virginians, including by:

• Establishing Paid Family and Medical Leave: Virginia will be the first state in the South to offer 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave to welcome a new child, care for loved ones, and recover from illnesses without sacrificing their pay.
• Establishing Paid Sick Leave: Virginia is creating a statewide paid sick leave policy to provide both full-time and part-time workers with one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked - up to five paid sick days per year.
• Raising State Minimum Wage to $15: Virginia will increase the minimum wage to $13.75 per hour on January 1, 2027 and $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2028.
• Paying Farm Workers Minimum Wage: Farmworkers in Virginia will now be entitled to minimum wage protections.
• Banning Employers from Accessing Salary History: Employers in the Commonwealth are prohibited from seeking or using a candidate's previous salary history to determine future pay.
• Requiring Salary Disclosure: Employers in the Commonwealth are now required to disclose salary information on job advertisements and postings.
• Protecting Workers from Wage Theft: Virginia created a clear enforcement authority for wage theft violations, enabling employees who may not be able to pursue legal action on their own with a pathway to recover lost wages.
• Expanding Unemployment Benefits: Virginians will receive up to $48 more per week in unemployment benefits, which provide temporary financial assistance to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Additionally, workers will be able to access unemployment benefits during employer-directed lockouts.
• Construction Worker Wage Protections: Construction workers in Virginia working on projects funded by Virginia taxpayers will be guaranteed a fair wage.
• Banning Non-Competes for Healthcare Workers: Employers can no longer require healthcare workers to sign non-compete agreements, which would prevent them from accepting a new job with another employer in the healthcare sector.
• Supporting Homecare Workers: State-law overtime protections are now extended to homecare workers who are facing rollbacks of their federal rights.
• Protecting Workers from Dangerous Heat: The Commonwealth will issue new workplace standards to protect workers from dangerous heat on the job, both outdoors and indoors.
• Emergency Responder Protections: Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who miss work to respond as voluntary emergency responders during a declared emergency. Employees subjected to retaliation may seek reinstatement and lost wages.
• Empowering Workers Against Discrimination: By expanding the Human Rights Act, Virginians who work for employers with five or more employees will be covered by anti-discrimination protections. Previously, the law only applied to employers with 15 or more employees. Additionally, workers will have up to two years to file a suit.

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