Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.

This legislation requires private employers in Virginia to provide employees with earned paid sick leave. Under the bill, workers would accrue one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours per year. This leave could be used for an employee’s own health needs, to care for a family member, or for instances involving domestic violence or sexual assault. Employers who fail to comply or retaliate against workers for using these benefits would face civil penalties. For Arlington residents, this bill aims to increase economic security and public health by ensuring that service industry and hourly workers do not have to choose between their income and their health, potentially reducing the spread of illness in workplaces and schools.