NEW! On March 21, 2022, the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board adopted the final revocation of the Virginia Standard 16VAC25-220 for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19 (“Virginia Standard”). The revocation will be effective upon publication in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, which is currently scheduled for March 23, 2022.

NOTE: Violations of the Virginia Standard, 16VAC25-220, remain subject to citation for VOSH inspections opened on or prior to March 22, 2022.

In response to the CDC’s Updated Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People issued on July 27, 2021, the Safety and Health Codes Board adopted amendments to the Virginia Standard on August 26, 2021.

For more information on the revised Virginia Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention, please click here.

For guidance on how to report Coronavirus cases see Reporting Positive Coronavirus Cases and for online reporting see the NEW! Online Reporting Link.

Please note, the Virginia Standard with an effective date of January 27, 2021, is no longer in effect. For further information see Archive of the Virginia COVID-19 Standard web page.  

Pursuant to Va. Code § 40.1-28.7:8, the term “Low-wage employee” as applied to covenants not to compete has been calculated by the Virginia Employment Commission to include all employees and independent contractors who earn an average of less than $1,290 per week.
Any employer who enters into, enforces, or threatens to enforce a covenant not to compete with any low-wage employee as defined by the statute will be in violation of the statute, and subject to a suit for damages, attorneys’ fees, and liquidated damages, and civil monetary penalties assessed by the Commissioner.
Additionally, the section contains a posting requirement for employers which advises, “Every employer shall post a copy of this section or a summary approved by the Department in the same location where other employee notices required by state or federal law are posted.” Posting a copy of the Code will meet the requirements for notice to employees required under the law.

July 1, 2021, the Virginia Overtime Wage Act, Va. Code § 40.1-29.2, goes into effect. This law requires employers in the Commonwealth to pay an overtime wage rate of one and a half times the regular rate for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek.