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Fired or underpaid in Virginia? Wage and workplace rules

Pay rules and injury-claim deadlines for workers in Virginia, each checked against the state code or labor agency. Federal law also applies and some cities set higher minimums.

The Virginia rules, checked against the source

Minimum wage

$12.77 per hour from January 1, 2026 until January 1, 2027 (or the federal rate if higher).

Source: Va. Code § 40.1-28.10(B) · checked November 6, 2026

Total disability pay

66 2/3 percent of the average weekly wage, within the statutory minimum and maximum.

Source: Va. Code § 65.2-500 · checked November 6, 2026

Telling your employer about a work injury

Written notice within thirty days after the accident, unless a reasonable excuse is accepted.

Source: Va. Code § 65.2-600(D) · checked November 6, 2026

Filing the comp claim

A claim must be filed with the Workers' Compensation Commission within two years after the accident.

Source: Va. Code § 65.2-601 · checked November 6, 2026

Rules not listed here were left out because we could not check them against an official Virginia source. That does not mean no rule exists.

What this means for you

Keep your own records

Write down your hours, pay stubs, schedules and the names of supervisors involved. Records made at the time carry weight.

Check both state and federal rules

Federal law (the Fair Labor Standards Act) sets a floor. Where a state rule below is more protective, the state rule generally matters too.

Deadlines apply to wage and leave claims

Agency complaints and lawsuits have time limits. A lawyer licensed in the state can tell you which one applies to you.

Cities in Virginia

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