Virginia break, overtime and sick leave rules

Meal and rest breaks, overtime and paid sick leave in Virginia, in plain words. Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Not legal advice.

The rules in Virginia#

Meal breaks: No general meal break rule for adults.
Rest breaks: No general paid rest break rule for adults.
Overtime: No overtime threshold of its own: Virginia law makes employers liable under state law for violating the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime requirements (1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek).
Paid sick leave: No statewide paid sick leave law for most private employers yet. A new law (2026 Acts chapters 1128 and 1129) takes effect July 1, 2027 for employers with 50 or more employees, January 1, 2028 for 25 or more, and January 1, 2029 for all employers: 1 hour per 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year. A narrower existing law covers certain home health workers.

Oh! Thyme runs a company in Virginia on the federal rules. On every shift it checks:

Overtime after 40 hours in a workweek, worked out week by week
Every punch and break, to the minute
Sick leave balances build from approved hours at the rate set for each person, such as 1 hour per 30 worked, stop at their cap, and come down when time off is approved.