Virginia HB 783 established only narrow paid sick leave for home health workers. Richmond cannot mandate broader paid leave for private employers because Dillon's Rule reserves leave policy to the Virginia General Assembly.
Virginia House Bill 783 (2021) created a limited paid sick leave entitlement covering certain home health care workers serving Medicaid recipients, requiring up to 40 hours annually. The General Assembly has not enacted universal paid sick or family leave for private employers. Under Dillon's Rule, Richmond cannot expand mandates to cover restaurants, retailers, or office workers in Shockoe Bottom, the Fan, or downtown. Employers may voluntarily offer paid time off, and some larger Richmond hospitals and VCU Health follow internal policies, but no city ordinance compels paid leave.
Failing to provide HB 783 paid sick leave to qualifying home health workers exposes employers to Department of Labor and Industry enforcement and damages under the statute.
See how Richmond's paid leave preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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