Va. lawmakers try again on paid sick leave and family medical leave bills

In Virginia, there is no state policy that sets a minimum for paid sick days, so it’s up to companies whether they offer them or not. A multi-year effort to require paid sick leave for workers is up for debate in the legislature again this year and advocates hope it will finally become law. 

A handful of workers participated in a panel discussion on paid sick leave at the Virginia General Assembly building on Wednesday to share their experiences. 

Electrician Evan Hargreaves said during his days as a restaurant worker, he literally could not afford to get sick. When he came down with COVID-19 two years ago and had to take a few days off, he had to negotiate being late on rent with his landlord. 

“Since some businesses refuse to do it on their own accord, it’s necessary that the legislature pass paid sick days legislation,” Hargreaves said. 

While Virginia does have a paid sick leave law, it applies to a narrow scope of workers. House Bill 5 by Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler, D-Virginia Beach, would expand that to all public and private sector employees in the state. Workers would be able to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. 

As a behavior support clinician, La’Tavia Lowe provides at-home and in-clinic therapy for children with autism. Each day she interacts with several families. Lowe also works as a Door Dasher to help make ends meet. 

Getting sick forces her to weigh if she can afford to stay home and “puts undue stress on my shoulders,” she said.

Family medicine doctor David Clark, another panelist, said that after he treats some patients and offers them a doctor’s note, they tell him their employers won’t accept it.

Calling it “a public health risk,” he said that ensuring people can take days off can help ensure anything ranging from a common cold to more serious issues don’t spread as easily. 

Relatedly, the legislature is also pushing for a paid family medical leave bill. The bill for paid sick days can help people handle minor short-term illnesses or care for family members that have them, while the paid family medical leave bill would help those dealing with longer-term illnesses or recovering from surgeries. 

Senate Bill 2 by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, would create a state-run partial payment system to help people take time off work for medical reasons. 

Grocery store worker and panelist LaChae Kelly-Taliaferro said both proposals would have been helpful when her late husband was ill. Between his surgery and hospital stays, work, and three children she could not afford to take time off work. 

“Everyone needs to understand that everyone gets sick,” she said and credited her local union with supporting her during her family’s hardship.  

Both sick leave bills are priorities for the democrat-controlled legislature and align with Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s goals of addressing Virginians’ affordability issues. 

Virginia Interfaith Center For Public Policy director LaKeisha Cook said Spanberger’s stance and the Democratic majority means the sick leave bills will be less likely to face a veto. Once bills clear both chambers governors can choose to amend them, veto them or sign them into law. 

Despite the alignment in intention between both branches of government, full implementation may come down to budgeting.

A fiscal analysis from the Department of Planning and Budget anticipates the paid sick leave bill would increase general fund expenses by $14 million and nongeneral fund expenses by $12 million, beginning in the fiscal year of 2028.

State lawmakers are already bracing for how many expenditures the state may have to absorb amid federal funding cuts and changes to social services and medical programs typically funded and facilitated by the federal government. 

“We do realize that this comes with a price tag,” Cook said. “We know that this won’t be easy to push across the finish line, but we’re feeling confident.”

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