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Governor Spanberger hosts worker roundtable, visits high school in Manassas

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FOX 5 DC
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Updated September 9, 2026 12:53 PM EDT Published September 9, 2026 12:37 PM EDT
Virginia expanding paid leave, costs uncertain
Virginia expanding paid leave, costs uncertain

Virginia expanding paid leave, costs uncertain

Costs are uncertain as Virginia expands paid leave. 

The Brief

    • Virginia Gov. Spanberger hosted a roundtable to discuss paid family and medical leave.
    • New laws expand paid sick leave and raise the minimum wage for Virginia workers.
    • Spanberger visits Osbourn Park High School as Virginia invests $2 billion in education.

MANASSAS, Va. - Governor Abigail Spanberger hosted a roundtable with Virginia workers in Manassas to discuss the rollout of new laws guaranteeing paid family and medical leave and paid sick leave for workers across the state.

What we know:

Earlier this year, Spanberger signed legislation to establish a paid family and medical leave program. 

The law gives more than three million workers the right to take 12 weeks of paid leave to welcome a child, care for a loved one or recover from illness without losing their income.

Spanberger also approved new laws expanding paid sick leave to all Virginia workers, raising the minimum wage to $15, strengthening protections against wage theft and requiring employers to disclose salary information in job listings.

The governor has framed the changes to Virginia's workplace rules as economic security for working families. However, businesses will have to adjust to the new statewide paid family and medical leave program, and the cost of those new benefits has been a major part of the debate. 

"Certainly, on the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, the value of that will be brought to bear not just to an individual experience, but frankly, for smaller business owners who want to be able to provide these types of support and benefits," Gov. Spanberger said. 

It's still unclear how much the new program will cost private employers. Virginia has not estimated the cost, while some business groups claim the mandate adds 3.3% to payroll costs. 

The White House highlighted a better-than-expected jobs report, but some workers told Gov. Spanberger that, without paid leave, they've struggled to keep their jobs. 

"Those two years away from work took a toll financially," said Virginia parent Melissa Alexander. "Things were tight. My husband and I spent way too many nights fretting over how to make ends meet."

The new rules are set to take effect over the next year and a half. 

The Source: Information in this article comes from the Office of Governor Abigail Spanberger.

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