The key to making the most of Virginia labor and employment law is engaging in fair hiring practices, complying with safety standards and keeping a good work environment. Virginia labor law was originally intended to simply improve working conditions for employees but it also improves the relationship between employers and employees. The resulting increase in productivity also increases profits for owners.

Virginia labor laws include regulations on specific issues such as break and lunch periods, employee-to-foreman ratios, job safety and the work environment. Labor laws must also be regularly updated to deal with changes in technology and work requirements.

Virginia labor and employment law can be group into the following areas:

1. Overtime laws that govern how employees are to be paid after working their normal work day. These laws are most applicable for suits involving the restoration of overtime pay.

2. Virginia labor laws that deal with disabled workers, especially with regard to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

3. Tax laws that affect damages earned for emotional distress on lawsuits. Recent changes in these laws mean that any settlement of this type will now be far lower.

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Stay current on labor law in Virginia

These laws can change frequently and it's essential that you keep up to date in order to protect your business from frivolous lawsuits and understand your rights as an employer.

I recommend: Lawyers.com provides a summary of employment law in Virginia and also has pre-employment checklist. Labor Law Talk has a forum dedicated to Virginia labor laws that discusses current issues from registered posters.

Study state guidelines to help you comply with Virginia labor laws

Virginia has official state websites that provide extensive information on employment regulations. There are also many other sites that provide summaries of state employment and labor laws.

I recommend: The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry is the state website for employment law and has links to many resources. The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission is able to answer many questions regarding workers’ compensation.

Use attorneys that specialize in Virginia working laws

Employment law attorneys can help you understand the often complex laws regarding your employees. Many of these attorneys also provide summaries of these laws on their websites.

I recommend: The VirginiaLaborLaw.com library is on the website of Ray Hogge & Associates and provides an extensive list of topics on Virginia labor law. Pender & Coward in Virginia Beach offers articles on employment law in Virginia.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Employers with three or more employees must display mandatory Virginia labor law posters. This is required in order to comply with both the United States Department of Labor and Virginia Department of Labor. The most common locations for Virginia labor posters are areas where employees tend to congregate during breaks such as conference rooms, lunch rooms and near time clocks.

Virginia employment law helps employers protect their businesses through compliance with safety standards, fair hiring practices and work environment. Labor law helps both employers and employees have better working relationships in a more productive environment.

Virginia employment laws make working better for everyone. Labor law, although originally intended to improve working conditions for laborers, boosts business owner’s bottom line by increased productivity.

Virginia labor laws deal with job safety, employee foreman ratios, break time, lunch time and safety standards within the work environment. Updated Virginia labor laws meet the demands of new technology and constantly changing work requirements.

Understand and comply with Virginia labor laws to:

1. Stay in compliance with the labor department.

2. Provide productive work environments for employees.

3. Protect your businesses from frivolous lawsuits.

4. Keep productivity high.

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Display Virginia labor law posters in easy to read locations around your facility

Keeping employees informed of their rights and responsibilities under Virginia working laws keeps them empowered. Virginia labor law posters provide the latest updates and changes in labor law in Virginia.

I recommend: GovDocs and LaborLawCenter.com carry up to date government recommended Virginia labor law posters for display around your facility.

Protect yourself and your employees by keeping up to date on employment law in Virginia

The only way to guard your company from frivolous lawsuits and keep employees happy is to promote a safe work environment and understand your rights as an employer. Keeping up to date on changes to current laws and how they effect your particular company is vital to a healthy work environment.

I recommend: Read the Virginia State Bar Public Pamphlet on the Virginia Worker’s Compensation Act to understand workers rights to worker’s compensation when injured on the job. The Virginia Worker’s Compensation Commission provides detailed information about the Act for both employers and employees.

Increase productivity by going above and beyond what's required by state of Virginia labor laws

Employment law in Virginia, as in any state, gives guidelines and requirements for what the state considers a safe working environment. Going above the minimum requirements to keep employees happy is a great way to increase their overall productivity.

I recommend: VaEMploy.com is the Virginia Employment Commission website. The Virginia Employment Commission offers help to employers through Employment Advisory Committees and Employment law guides. HRhero.com is a subscription service offering the latest state by state update to employment law.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Discuss employment law changes with your union representative. If you are a non union business, be sure someone in your Human Resources department is in charge of all employment law related issues.
• •  Display Virginia labor law posters anywhere employees tend to congregate or spend time on breaks. Conference rooms, break rooms, lunch rooms and near time clocks are all great places to put labor law posters.

An examination of Virginia labor and employment law basics should include finding ways of protecting your business and employees. The primary goal of labor and employment laws is to equalize the power between employers and employees, who are frequently represented by labor unions.

Virginia labor laws may include both state and federal statutes. Federal laws regulate workers' rights to organize and override most state labor and employment laws. However, federal laws generally do not apply to agricultural workers, domestic employees and employees of local or state governments. There are three general areas of labor and employment law regulated by states:

1. Union organization; employment law in Virginia provides public employees with limited protections but also may allow public employees to strike under some circumstances.
2. Regulations on wages and benefits; many states have laws giving a minimum wage that is higher than the federal standard and also provide laws that protect workers excluded by the Fair Labor and Standards Act (FLSA).
3. Employee discrimination; federal laws cover discrimination of employees on the basis of race, age and certain disabilities. Some states have passed legislation on other types of discrimination, such as marital status or sexual orientation.

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Learn about labor law in Virginia that regulates minimum wage and overtime

According to Virginia labor law, businesses must pay their employees the greater of the state or federal minimum wage. Overtime laws generally control what an employee should be paid after 40 hours of work in the same week.

I recommend: The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry provides helpful labor and employment law information, including the current minimum wage and overtime laws in Virginia. Get detailed information about minimum wage requirements in Virginia at FindLaw.

Find out how to display Virginia labor law posters

Virginia labor law posters keep employees informed of their rights and obligations under federal and state labor laws. Employers must display these posters in the workplace in a visible location where they are easy to read.

I recommend: Labor Law Center provides quick facts and updates on the requirements for displaying labor law posters in Virginia. Learn more about labor law posting requirements and get information about the most recent changes in these laws at J. J. Keller & Associates.

Provide workers' compensation insurance required by state of Virginia labor laws

Workers' compensation insurance protects employees and their families in the event of injury or death of the employee while on the job. Employers also may need to pay for any medical expenses incurred during litigation.

I recommend: Get detailed information and specific guidance for complying with the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act at Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. WorkersCompensation.com has a variety of links to statutes and other helpful resources regarding workers' compensation in Virginia.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Virginia working laws generally have the presumption that workers not covered by an employment agreement are 'at will' employees who may be fired without notice or cause. However, these employees may be still be protected under laws that cover specific activities such as organizing unions or whistleblowing.

Like other states, Virginia passes labor and employment laws regulating companies that do business within its borders. Virginia companies should have a working knowledge of these regulations since the penalties for non-compliance can be stiff. Don't just leave the matter up to your HR department. If you're a CEO of a Virginia company, become familiar with the key terms and concepts of Virginia labor and employment law so you can stay informed of key legal developments.

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At will employment

When companies follow the 'at will employment' doctrine, they are letting employees know they may be fired for any reason as long as that reason is not prohibited by law.

I recommend: Lawyers explains how Virginia businesses and courts apply the "at will" doctrine to employment practices. You'll also learn how employment contracts can overcome the at will presumption doctrine.

Workers compensation insurance

Virginia businesses are required by law to maintain workers compensation insurance that covers employees who are injured on the job.

I recommend: Check out the specific requirements for workers compensation insurance at the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission website. Find out the suggested methods for providing liability and whether your company must comply with these regulations.

Affirmative action programs

When states enforce affirmative action programs, they are telling certain businesses that they must strive to attract workers from certain minority groups.

I recommend: Go to the Virginia Labor Law Library to access a discussion of Virginia's affirmative action laws that have been in effect since 2000. Find out whether your business can be considered a contractor that must comply with the revised regulations.

VOSH complaint

VOSH stands for 'Virginia Occupational Safety and Health'. When an employee files a VOSH complaint, he is alerting the state to violations of OSHA standards at his workplace.

I recommend: The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry explains the process of filing a VOSH complaint. It further explains how employees should report occupational hazards at particular work sites.

Wrongful termination

Wrongful termination refers to instances where an employee is fired for the reasons the law does not recognize.

I recommend: Employment attorneys Bell & Bands explain Virginia's labor and employment law as it relates to wrongful termination. You'll discover what records employers will need to produce when a wrongful termination suit has been brought against them. You'll also find out whether or not an employee may have good legal standing to allege wrongful termination.

Family Medical Leave Act

The Family Medical Leave Act requires certain businesses to allow employees extended time off to care for family-related issues.

I recommend: Virginia employment attorneys Albo & Oblon explain the implications of the Family Medical Leave Act for Virginia companies, such as what constitutes a real medical emergency and the evidence employees must present when requesting family leave.