Organized Retail Theft
Bills that established the crime of organized retail theft, making it a serious offense for people who steal retail items with the intent to sell them for profit, receive stolen retail property, or engage in schemes with others to transfer or sell stolen property from retail stores. It also defined terms and set penalties for damaging property during such thefts. Additionally, it established a fund to support the investigation and prosecution of organized retail theft and related crimes.
Felony Larceny Threshold
The proposed bills lowered the threshold for grand larceny from $1,000 to $500 and applies the same reduction to certain property crimes. It also sets penalties, including jail time, for repeat larceny offenses. VRF advocates for a lower felony threshold to deter an increase in retail theft.
Minimum Wage Requirements
Each year, new minimum wage requirements are introduced into legislation, imposing fresh obligations on businesses. We are staunch advocates for giving businesses a say in these decisions and maintaining control over their own affairs.
Paid & Unpaid Leave
Various bills are introduced each year and cover the following:
- proposed significant changes in employment law, extending paid sick leave to various employees, allowing for the carryover of accrued leave, and enforcing penalties for non-compliance. Some bills even established a paid family and medical leave program
- proposed establishing a statewide paid family and medical leave program, funded through premiums, and offering benefits to eligible employees
- proposed unpaid leave for organ donors, with employer obligations, protections, and penalties for violations
- proposed expanding the role of insurance agents by allowing them to sell private family leave insurance, clarifying its distinction from other insurance types
Sales Tax Increase
Each year sales tax increases are proposed to fund projects like infrastructure and safety improvements or to support school construction or renovation projects. VRF opposes any industry-specific tax that places an additional burden on businesses, particularly in terms of tax collection and remittance.
Employer Mandates
The bills collectively introduce a range of employer mandates in Virginia, encompassing workplace violence policies, training on sexual harassment and workplace discrimination, prohibitions on wage or salary history inquiries, and notifications of the statute of limitations for discrimination complaints. They also address worker misclassification, employee protections related to medicinal cannabis oil use, and cosmetology salon apprenticeships. Employer mandates, intended to protect employees and promote fair workplace practices, can pose challenges to businesses. They increase compliance costs, administrative burdens, and the potential for legal liabilities. Additionally, mandates may limit business flexibility, impact employment decisions, and create complexity and uncertainty in navigating regulatory requirements, affecting businesses in various ways. The impact can vary depending on the specific mandates and the size and industry of the business.