Tonight, the Virginia state legislature passed legislation to create a statewide paid family and medical leave program as well as legislation to create a statewide right to paid sick time. Now, both pieces of legislation will head to the desk of Governor Spanberger, who has publicly shared her support for both policies. This news positions Virginia to become the 15th state with a paid family and medical leave program and the 19th state with a paid sick leave law—as well as the first Southern state to enact paid leave for all of its workers.
The following is a statement from A Better Balance President Inimai Chettiar:
“With the passage of both statewide paid family and medical leave and paid sick time, Virginia will significantly advance the health, wellbeing, and financial security of working families across the state. No longer will Virginia’s workers be forced to sacrifice their paycheck or risk their jobs in order to take a day to take the time they need to care for themselves and their loved ones.
With Virginia poised to become the first Southern state to guarantee paid leave, this is a pivotal moment in the national paid leave movement. Legislators and voters across party lines and zip codes are increasingly recognizing that paid leave should be at the center of any agenda to combat the affordability crisis working families are facing. A need for paid leave to care for oneself and one’s family isn’t an abstract issue — it’s a reality millions of workers face every day. As we head into a midterm year, our national lawmakers from both parties can demonstrate their commitment to increasing affordability for working families by heeding the example of states like Virginia and fighting for paid leave.
We congratulate the legislative sponsors and our partners at Freedom Virginia, Voices for Virginia’s Children, and the Virginia Interfaith Center on this victory, and urge Governor Spanberger to swiftly sign both bills into law.”