Virginia Prohibits Discrimination Based on Ethnic Origin (July 1, 2024)
- Effective July 1, 2024, the Virginia Human Rights Act is amended to prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin.
- Already prohibited based on Title VII of federal Civil Rights Act.
Virginia Requires Notice of Right to Dispute Workers’ Compensation Claim (July 21, 2024)
- If a covered employer or the employer’s insurer denies a covered employee’s request for workers’ compensation benefits, the employer or the insurer must include in its letter denying benefits a notice that the employee has a right to dispute the claim denial through the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC).
Virginia Adopts Revised OSHA Electronic Reporting Procedures for Workplace Injuries and Illnesses (January 1, 2024)
- Effective January 1, 2024, Virginia adopts by reference the amended Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations regarding electronic reporting procedures for workplace injuries and illnesses, which also take effect January 1, 2024 (i.e. Virginia’s requirements are identical to federal requirements).
Applicable only to small businesses not offering a tax-qualified retirement plan for its employees:
Virginia Retirement Savings Program Registration Due for Eligible Employers (February 15, 2024)
- Employers that are eligible for the RetirePath Virgina individual retirement account (IRA) savings program in 2023 must register with the program by February 15, 2024. An employer is eligible if they:
- Have been in business in Virginia for at least two years before the program is implemented;
- Have employed 25 or more eligible employees (as reported to the Virginia Employment Commission) for the quarter ending December 31 and the preceding three quarters of the preceding calendar year; and
- Do not sponsor, maintain or contribute to an automatic enrollment payroll deduction IRA or a tax-qualified retirement plan for its employees.
- Employers that are exempt because they already offer an automatic enrollment payroll deduction IRA or a tax-qualified retirement plan must certify their exemption online.