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A North Springfield child care provider says Virginia’s new paid family and medical leave program will help small businesses compete for skilled workers while giving employees greater financial stability during major life events.
Monica Jackson, owner of Jackson Child Care, joined Gov. Abigail Spanberger and lawmakers at a ceremonial bill signing Monday, May 11. Jackson said smaller employers like hers often cannot afford to offer the paid-leave benefits available at larger companies.
The program will allow most Virginia workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave beginning Dec. 1, 2028. Qualifying circumstances include welcoming a child, recovering from a serious illness, caring for a relative with a serious health condition and addressing certain military family needs.
Eligible workers will receive 80% of their average weekly wage, capped at 100% of Virginia’s average weekly wage.
Employers and employees will jointly fund the benefit through payroll contributions starting April 1, 2028. Fairfax County State Sen. Jennifer Boysko, who worked on the legislation for eight years, has said an employee earning $50,000 would contribute about $5 from each weekly paycheck.
The Virginia Employment Commission will administer the program. Most private-sector workers are expected to qualify, including part-time employees, small-business workers and people who are self-employed. State employees will receive a similar benefit.
Businesses may continue offering private family and medical leave plans if those programs satisfy the new law’s requirements.
Jackson said the statewide benefit could improve recruitment and retention for child care providers and other small employers. She also said paid leave can help families remain financially secure, allow children to recover at home and support healthier child care environments.
Spanberger said the law will help workers avoid choosing between receiving a paycheck and caring for a newborn or sick relative, or recovering from their own serious illness. She said it will also give small and midsize businesses access to competitive benefits they previously could not afford.
The law makes Virginia the first Southern state and the 15th state nationwide to establish such a program.
Paid leave will also be available in circumstances involving domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, although a gubernatorial amendment limits leave for those situations to four weeks.
Other amendments clarify that people who are legally present and authorized to work in the United States are eligible. They also more precisely define which family members an employee may take leave to care for.