Virginia Labor Laws: Every Rule With Its 2026 Figure — Best Proven Guide (2026)

Virginia labor laws in one place: the minimum wage is $12.77, no state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5…, no Virginia law requires a meal break for adult workers; if an employer gives one of 30 minutes or more it…, no paid sick leave is required,

and the final paycheck is due on or before the date you would have been paid for that work had the job not ended (your regular pay date for… if you are fired.

This guide gives the exact virginia labor laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next. Rules verified against the statute on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, Labor and Employment Law Division or an attorney before you rely on it.

Virginia Labor Laws: Minimum Wage and Overtime

The minimum wage is $12.77. No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Virginia — only the weekly total counts. The DOL page lists no Virginia overtime trigger; the federal 40-hour rule applies.

FLAG: the 2022 repeal of the Virginia Overtime Wage Act and the 40.1-29.3 enforcement provision are from memory — confirm on law.lis.virginia.gov before the first refresh.

Virginia Labor Laws: Breaks and Lunch

No Virginia law requires a meal break for adult workers; if an employer gives one of 30 minutes or more it may be unpaid only if you are fully relieved of duty (federal FLSA rule). No Virginia law requires paid rest breaks; under the federal FLSA any short break of 5 to 20 minutes an employer does give must be paid.

Virginia Labor Laws at a Glance

Rules verified against the statute on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, Labor and Employment Law Division or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.

Virginia Labor Laws: Hours Worked, 12-Hour Shifts and Days of Rest

Virginia does not generally limit 12-hour shifts or mandatory overtime for private-sector workers, including hospital nurses. Instead, state law generally requires overtime pay for hours over the weekly limit, and starting in July 2026 the Department of Labor and Industry can investigate and enforce those overtime claims. NONE. Virginia’s old day-of-rest law was repealed, and no current state rule gives most private-sector workers one day of rest in seven.

Virginia Labor Laws for 16 and 17 Year Olds

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry says state limits on how many hours someone can work, and at what times of day, apply only to workers under 16, so 16- and 17-year-olds generally have no state hour caps. They still cannot work in jobs Virginia lists as hazardous, such as mining, logging and sawmilling, demolition, roofing, and handling dangerous chemicals, except in narrow cases like registered apprenticeships.

Confirm details with the state agency.

Virginia Labor Laws: Sick Leave and PTO

No Virginia law requires paid sick leave; the employer’s own policy or a union contract controls, and the federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave at employers of 50 or more. Vacation payout follows the employer’s policy.

Virginia Labor Laws: Final Paycheck

On or before the date you would have been paid for that work had the job not ended (your regular pay date for that period) if the employer ends the job; on or before the date you would have been paid for that work had the job not ended — the same rule however the job ended if you quit.

Penalty: all wages due plus an equal amount as liquidated damages and 8% interest from the due date; triple the wages plus attorney fees for a knowing violation (40.1-29); civil penalty up to $1,000 per violation.

Virginia Labor Laws: Non Compete, Right to Work and At-Will

Virginia bars employers from entering, enforcing or threatening to enforce a non compete with a low-wage employee — anyone earning less than the state average weekly wage ($1,463.10 a week, about $76,081 a year, for 2025) or, since July 1, 2025, anyone entitled to overtime under the FLSA regardless of pay — or with a health care professional; and since the current text,

a non compete is unenforceable against any employee the employer let go without severance unless the discharge was for cause.

Yes — Virginia is a right-to-work state: you cannot be required to join a union or pay union dues or fees to get or keep a job, though a union contract still covers you. Virginia is an at-will state: either side may end the job at any time for any lawful reason.

Virginia Labor Laws: Required Posters

Most Virginia employers must post the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health “Job Safety and Health Protection” poster, the Virginia Employment Commission unemployment “Notice to Workers” (VEC-B-29), and the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission notice.

Depending on the employer, Virginia may also require the seizure first aid poster, the pregnancy accommodations poster, the human trafficking hotline notice, and the state tax credit posters, but Virginia does not require a state minimum wage poster.

Other Virginia Labor Laws to Know

Since July 2026, Virginia generally requires job postings to include a pay range and bars employers from asking about your past pay. Virginia also limits non-compete agreements for lower-wage workers and licensed health care workers. A non-compete generally cannot be enforced against someone laid off without severance pay, so if you just lost your job, confirm with the state agency whether one applies to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum wage under Virginia labor laws?

$12.77.

When is overtime owed under Virginia labor laws?

No state weekly trigger — the federal FLSA rule: after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. No daily overtime in Virginia — only the weekly total counts.

Are breaks required under Virginia labor laws?

No Virginia law requires a meal break for adult workers; if an employer gives one of 30 minutes or more it may be unpaid only if you are fully relieved of duty (federal FLSA rule).

Is paid sick leave required under Virginia labor laws?

No state mandate.

When is my final paycheck due under Virginia labor laws?

On or before the date you would have been paid for that work had the job not ended (your regular pay date for that period).

Official Virginia Sources & Resources

• Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, Labor and Employment Law Division: https://www.doli.virginia.gov/labor-law/
• Virginia statute (Va. Code 40.1-29): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/
• Verified source: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/section40.1-29/
• U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov

This virginia labor laws guide was last verified against official Virginia sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.

More Virginia Workplace Rights Guides

• Virginia Overtime Laws: Threshold, Rate and Exemptions
• Virginia Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
• Virginia Sick Leave Law: Accrual and Caps
• Virginia Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
• Virginia PTO Laws: Is Unused Vacation Paid Out?
• Virginia Non Compete Law: Is Yours Enforceable?
• Virginia At Will Employment Law: The Exceptions
• Virginia Right to Work: What It Means for You
• Virginia Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
• Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States

Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.