Employee Leave: Best Practices in Light of Recent Legislative Actions
The 2026 Virginia legislative session brought significant changes for employers across the DMV — and if you haven't started preparing, now is the time.
Virginia recently enacted both new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) and Paid Sick Leave laws. Together, this legislation represents the most substantial expansion of employee leave rights in Virginia's history, with employer compliance requirements beginning as early as 2027.
For businesses operating across Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., the compliance picture is even more complex. Each jurisdiction has its own layered requirements — from D.C.'s Universal Paid Leave program to Maryland's upcoming FAMLI contributions. Understanding and implementing compliant approaches now is far less costly than scrambling later.
Kramer Elias attorney Theodora Stringham recently presented a comprehensive overview of these new and forthcoming requirements, including key deadlines, benefit calculations, employer obligations, and practical best practices for policy adoption.
Download the resources below to get the complete breakdown, and reach out to Theodora directly with questions at tstringham@kramerelias.com or (703) 202-7633.
Theodora Stringham focuses her practice on bringing solutions-oriented representation and zealous advocacy to complex issues impacting individuals, organizations, and businesses. Ms. Stringham seeks to understand clients’ concerns and provide thorough and strategic options aimed at achieving their goals. She has been recognized for her work in the Real Estate, Labor and Employment, and Commercial Litigation practice areas, providing counseling and litigation support for a wide variety of concerns.