Are there special rules that apply to small businesses and employers with fewer than 15 employees?

Yes, there are special rules that apply to small businesses and employers with fewer than 15 employees in Virginia. According to the Virginia Human Rights Act, employers with fewer than 15 employees are exempt from the law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, and, in some counties, sexual orientation. This exemption applies to most hiring, promotion, and other employment decisions. However, the exemption does not apply to employers with 15 or more employees. These employers are required to comply with the Virginia Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on characteristics like age, race, religion, sex, national origin, and disability. Employers with 15 or more employees are also required to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship to the business. Additionally, employers with more than five employees are also required to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid family and medical leave under the Virginia Family and Medical Leave Act. This law provides employees with job protection and unpaid leave for a variety of purposes, such as caring for a sick family member, the birth of a child, or the adoption of a child. Overall, the Virginia Human Rights Act applies differently to employers based on the size of their business. While employers with fewer than 15 employees are exempt from some of the provisions of the law, employers with 15 or more employees must comply with all of them.

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