Virginia

On May 14, 2026, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed Senate Bill (SB) No. 378 / House Bill (HB) No. 1263, legislation that would have extended collective bargaining rights to the Commonwealth’s approximately 500,000 public employees.

During the January to May 2026 General Session, the Virginia General Assembly passed several important employment laws.

TakeawaysVirginia legislation taking effect July 1 imposes new requirements on “high-volume” arbitration service providers, including procedures for arbitrator selection, strict deadlines for payment of arbitration fees and grounds for challenging an arbitration award (among other penalties) if those requirements are not met.The requirements apply to arbitration agreements with Virginia-based employees. Employers in Virginia should review their arbitration agreements and provider rules to ensur…

Virginia employers should keep in mind that significant employment law changes take effect July 1, 2026, including new pay transparency requirements for job postings and a ban on salary history inquiries. Read more about what employers need to know here.

TakeawaysVirginia is requiring greater pay transparency and putting tighter restrictions on non-compete agreements, including bans for certain workers.New statewide paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave and other protections significantly broaden employee benefits and workplace rights over time.New laws increase employer obligations around wages, anti-discrimination and liability.Related linkVirginia Legislative Information - 2026 Regular SessionArticleVirginia’s 2026 legislative sessi…