It is impossible to understate the magnitude of the change in Virginia employment law in 2020. Previously, Virginia had few employment laws and provided few employee rights. The General Assembly in 2020, however, passed several laws greatly expanding employee rights and providing new causes of action, and monetary damages, against employers. Businesses need to understand these changes and take steps now to reduce their risk of liability. This article highlights the major changes and urgent action items for employers.
These costly changes could not have come at a worse time for businesses, many of which are reeling from the COVID-19 crisis. Nonetheless, businesses must review their existing policies and procedures now to reduce risk under these new laws. We expect to see a dramatic increase in Virginia employment litigation in the coming years. Vandeventer Black’s employment law team is available to assist businesses in addressing these changes.