Virginia has issued important 2026 mid-year updates affecting Workers’ Compensation, VOSH workplace safety, and non-compete protections. Employers should review their posted notices now to make sure their workplace poster reflects the latest requirements.
Workers Comp - Virginia revised its Workers’ Compensation Notice with several substantive updates. The new notice provides clearer instructions for filing a workers’ compensation claim, revises the explanation of filing deadlines for occupational diseases, adds information regarding the seven-day waiting period and employees seeking suitable work, and strengthens the employer’s physician-panel instructions by specifying physicians from different practice groups. It also adds online claim resources and QR codes.
VOSHA - Virginia updated its Job Safety and Health Protection poster in August of 2026. The most significant change is an increase in VOSH civil penalties: maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations increased from $15,875 to $16,652, while maximum penalties for willful or repeated violations increased from $158,725 to $166,500. The poster also reflects an updated Commissioner and a new Harrisonburg VOSH office location.
New Protections Against Non-Compete Agreements
· Beginning July 1, 2026, Employers are prohibited from requiring health-care workers in Virginia from entering into a non-compete agreement.
o This prohibition is for any healthcare employee licensed, registered, or certified by the Board of Medicine, Nursing, Counseling, Optometry, Psychology, or Social Work.
o Employers may not prevent a healthcare provider from informing a patient that they have changed employers or accepting a patient who affirmatively reaches out to the healthcare provider.
· Also, beginning July 1, 2026, a non-compete agreement may not be enforced against any employee who is laid off without severance benefits.
To help our valued customers comply with these updated posting requirements, Compliance Posters of America are incorporating these updates into our revised 2026 Virginia & Federal Workplace Poster as of mid-August 2026. Replace and update Your Virginia Poster by clicking on the link below.
https://www.compliancepostersofamerica.com/virginia-and-federal-labor-law-poster
