The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) began airing radio advertisements in Virginia on March 16 to oppose proposed paid leave legislation. The organization said the mandate would increase costs and legal risks for small businesses.
The campaign comes as many small businesses face rising expenses, labor shortages, and economic uncertainty. NFIB said the legislation would impose a one-size-fits-all requirement that does not account for differences between large corporations and smaller Main Street businesses.
NFIB State Director Julia Hammond said, “Proponents of the universal paid leave mandate seem to think all businesses are alike, but that’s not true.” She added, “There’s a big difference between Wall Street and Main Street. Small businesses operate on thin margins. Owners try to work with employees when they can, but many simply can’t afford to pay workers who aren’t there while also paying someone else to do the job.”
Hammond also said the bill would create a complicated enforcement system that could expose small businesses to new legal risks and frivolous lawsuits. “The bill also creates a complicated enforcement system that exposes small businesses to new legal risks and frivolous, abusive lawsuits,” Hammond said.
According to Hammond, current legislation would allow workers to bypass standard investigation processes and sue employers directly in court. She warned that trial attorneys could seek double damages, reinstatement, lost wages, attorney fees, and court costs. “That could devastate small businesses already struggling with mounting expenses,” she said. “The cost of defending even one frivolous lawsuit could be enough to put them out of business.”
The NFIB’s ad campaign includes both digital and radio components as it seeks to raise awareness among business owners about potential impacts of the proposed law.
