VA HB944

Employers with 100 or more employees must develop, implement, and maintain a workplace violence policy by January 1, 2027, including procedures for reporting incidents, emergency response, employee training, and risk assessment

Workplace violence is defined as physical force or weapon use resulting in injury or clinically diagnosed psychological trauma, excluding suicidal ideation, general workplace conflicts, performance discussions, or harassment handled through separate processes

Employers must document all workplace violence incidents for at least five years, including descriptions of the incident, date/time/location, employee names and job titles, injuries sustained, and how incidents were resolved

Civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation and $10,000 maximum per calendar year take effect July 1, 2027, with a 30-day abatement period to avoid penalties for non-serious or non-hospitalization citations

Employees are protected from retaliation for reporting workplace violence incidents or exercising rights under the policy, with civil action remedies including reinstatement, lost wages, and attorney fees available within one year of retaliatory action