(HB1921)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 1921, which mandates paid sick leave for all employees in the Commonwealth and imposes civil penalties for violations.

Employers must have the flexibility to design leave and benefit policies that fit their workforce rather than be subject to a one-size-fits-all government mandate. Indeed, many employers choose to offer paid sick leave as an employee benefit.

Small employers may be unable to comply with this mandate, leading to them to cut back on the number of employees or close altogether. Certain businesses are also justifiably concerned the legislation will impose complicated and unnecessary compliance challenges from their multi-state operations.

Ultimately, the bill would increase the cost of doing business in the Commonwealth and adversely impact our business climate.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.