Effective July 1, 2025, Virginia “hospital” employers will be required to implement a formal system for reporting incidents of workplace violence, following the enactment of House Bill 2269/Senate Bill 11662 to strengthen protections for healthcare workers by requiring hospitals to track and analyze violent incidents in a structured and transparent manner.
Overview of the Law
The new law mandates that all licensed hospitals in Virginia establish a process for employees to document, assess and report incidents of workplace violence. Incidents that include any staff member, not just those providing healthcare services, must be captured in the new reporting system. The intent is to support a safer work environment, improve incident tracking, and inform prevention strategies across healthcare settings.
Covered Entities
Importantly, the law defines “hospital” broadly. It applies to any licensed facility whose main purpose is to provide medical care or treatment, whether that care involves surgery or not. This includes a wide range of healthcare settings, such as certified nursing facilities, general hospitals, children’s hospitals, rehab centers, long-term care facilities, maternity wards, and outpatient surgical centers, regardless of what they are officially called.
Key Compliance Requirements
To comply with the law, hospitals must meet the following requirements:
Implement a Workplace Violence Reporting System
Covered entities must establish a mechanism for employees to report workplace violence incidents and to make improvements in preventing workplace violence. This system must be capable of collecting, tracking, and analyzing incident data in a secure and consistent manner. Employees must also be notified regarding the system, including at hire.
Employee Training
Employers must also provide training on when and how to report incidents of workplace violence to their employer, security agencies, and appropriate law-enforcement authorities.
Quarterly Internal Reporting
Incident data must be reported at least quarterly to both the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer. This ensures that hospital leadership remains informed and can respond appropriately to trends or areas of concern.
Annual Reporting to the State
Beginning in 2026, hospitals are required to submit an annual report to the Virginia Department of Health summarizing the number of workplace violence incidents that were voluntarily reported by employees in the previous year.
Next Steps for Employers
Additional statutes, regulations, and administrative guidance can be expected. In the interim, to prepare for the upcoming compliance deadline covered employers should:
- Begin to develop or review and update internal workplace violence policies that include a structured reporting and review process.
- Train human resources personnel, managers, and clinical staff on how to identify and report workplace violence incidents including training on risk identification and de-escalation techniques.
- Establish or enhance tracking systems to ensure data can be compiled, reviewed, and submitted as required.
- Verify that reporting systems, whether paper-based or digital, are capable of generating both quarterly and annual reports that meet the bill’s requirements.
- Participate in stakeholder discussions to help shape ongoing policy recommendations and implement guidance from the state.
HR Works will continue to monitor this topic and provide updates as more information is made available.
