Retaliatory personnel actions prohibited

A. No employer or other person shall interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of, or the attempt to exercise, any right protected under this chapter.

B. No employer, employment agency, employee organization, or other person shall take retaliatory personnel action or otherwise discriminate against an individual due to such individual's lawful exercise of rights protected under this chapter. Such rights include the right to request, file for, apply for, or use benefits provided for under this chapter; the right to communicate to the employer or any other person or entity that such individual (i) intends to file a claim, a complaint with the Commission or a court, or an appeal or (ii) has testified in, intends to testify in, or has otherwise assisted in any investigation, hearing, or proceeding under this chapter; the right to inform any person about any employer's alleged violation of this chapter; and the right to inform any individual of the individual's rights under this chapter.

C. It is unlawful for an employer's absence control policy to count paid family and medical leave taken under this chapter as an absence that may lead to or result in discipline, discharge, demotion, suspension, or any other adverse action.

D. Protections of this section shall apply to any person who mistakenly but in good faith alleges a violation of this chapter.

E. This section shall be enforced as provided in subsections C through F of § 60.2-808 .

2026, cc. 981 , 1093 .