Inova Health Systems continued an expansion of its urgent care network this week with the reopening of a facility in McLean.
Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care McLean opened to patients at 1340 Old Chain Bridge Road, Suite 101, this past Monday (Jan. 22) after closing last year for renovations. Formerly known as McLean Immediate Care Urgent Care, the center is the 16th one that Inova has added in Northern Virginia since it partnered with the on-demand health care company GoHealth in 2022.
“Inova-GoHealth’s rapid growth is a sign of our commitment to expanding access to affordable, on-demand care for people throughout Northern Virginia,” Inova-GoHealth regional president Harold Brown said. “Having convenient access to connected healthcare is vital for improving the quality of life for everyone in our community.”
Like other locations, the 2,600-square-foot urgent care center in McLean provides medical services to treat “common health concerns for adults and children six months and older, including COVID-19, flu, fever, asthma, allergies, minor cuts, burns, pink eye, urinary tract infections, fractures, sprains, strains and more,” according to a press release.
It’s open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Inova and GoHealth, which operates the facilities, are also preparing to launch a new urgent care center in the Herndon area. The 2,909-square-foot facility is on track to open in late February next to Taco Bamba in the Village Center at Dulles (2415 Centreville Road, Suite B6).
That will bring the two providers up to 17 urgent care centers in Northern Virginia. Seven of the centers were recently relaunched under the new branding, but there are also entirely new locations, including ones that opened in Fairfax City and Lorton last fall.
“With Inova-GoHealth centers across Fairfax County, patients can access convenient, high-quality care closer to where they live, work and play,” Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care Medical Director Dr. Meredith Porter said. “We are excited to expand access to on-demand healthcare for the community and seamlessly connect patients to Inova’s robust network.”
The Persian restaurant Joon opened at Fairfax Square in Tysons in June 2023 (courtesy Joon)
Ten of the D.C. region’s best restaurants can be found in Fairfax County, according to a newly unveiled round-up by Washingtonian.
Acknowledging that “some of the year’s coolest spots…debuted in the Virginia suburbs,” Washingtonian ranked Joon at no. 23 on its 2024 list of the “100 Very Best Restaurants” in the region. Opened on June 13, 2023, the Tysons-based Persian restaurant was the only Fairfax County spot to be ranked.
Located in Fairfax Square (8045 Leesburg Pike), Joon is led by chefs Najmieh Batmanglij and Christopher Morgan, who blend traditional Iranian cuisine with contemporary western elements. It also contains the pop-up, The Kitchen Collective, which serves food from other concepts by Joon co-founder Reza Farahani.
Farahani says it’s “an honor” for Joon to be recognized less than a year after its launch in an area that boasts “a vibrant and innovative restaurant scene.”
“Our vision has been to showcase a modern approach to the ancient cuisine of Iran and the Middle East, while using local and seasonal ingredients and innovative techniques to create a one-of-a-kind experience,” Farahani told FFXnow. “Our wine list and craft cocktails have been developed with distinct Persian flavors such as saffron, rose and pomegranate and are an homage to Persia’s contribution to the earliest spirits and wines known in history.”
Washingtonian praised Joon for food “that’s both homey and beautifully presented,” singling out the “warm pita” offered to patrons when they arrive, dips and sour-cherry rice as highlights.
“Whole platters sized for two and up are stunners, whether a whole rotisserie chicken with apples, apricots, and honey or a strapping feast of kebabs,” the magazine’s staff said in a capsule review.
Joon’s inclusion on Washingtonian’s annual list continued a good day for Batmanglij and Morgan, who were also named semifinalists yesterday (Wednesday) for a James Beard award.
Other Fairfax County establishments that made the list, which is unranked after the top 25, include:
- A&J Restaurant in Annandale (4316 Markham Street)
- Aracosia in McLean (1381 Beverly Road)
- Ingle Korean Steakhouse in Tysons (8369 Leesburg Pike, Suite A)
- Kirby Club in Merrifield (2911 District Avenue)
- L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls (332 Springvale Road)
- Mama Chang in Fairfax (3251 Old Lee Highway)
- Marib in Springfield (6981 Hechinger Drive)
- Padaek in Seven Corners (6395 Seven Corners Center)
- Parc De Ville in Merrifield (8296 Glass Alley)
Several restaurants — A&J, Aracosia, L’Auberge Chez Francois, Mama Chang and Marib — also appeared on Washingtonian’s “100 Very Best” list for 2023.
In the case of A&J, the family-owned dim sum eatery has been recognized every year that the list has come out since 2019, though the magazine paused the yearly round-up in 2021 and 2022 in response to the Covid pandemic. A&J originated in Rockville, Maryland, in 1996 before adding the Annandale location in 2000.
A longstanding fine dining establishment in West Falls Church near Merrifield and a rising star in the Tysons culinary scene are both representing Fairfax County this year in the semifinals of the prestigious James Beard Awards.
The only Virginia eatery recognized in a nationwide category, 2941 Restaurant (2941 Fairview Park Drive) was named a semifinalist for “Outstanding Restaurant” by the James Beard Foundation, which announced competitors for its 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards yesterday (Wednesday).
The list also includes Joon chefs Najmieh Batmanglij and Christopher Morgan, who made the semifinals for the regional “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic” category. Their Persian restaurant opened at Fairfax Square (8045 Leesburg Pike) in Tysons last June.
“The James Beard nomination recognizes how food can join chefs from different backgrounds and generations together to create a delicious and enticing experience for guests,” Joon co-founder Reza Farahani said in a statement to FFXnow. “We are humbled and appreciate the James Beard Foundation’s nomination of Chef Batmanglij’s and Chef Morgan’s talents and their modern take on this ancient cuisine. These two chefs’ approach to presenting a rich and diverse cuisine is a testimony to their artistry and skill.”
Named after the influential American chef, the James Beard Foundation has handed out awards lauding “exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts” annually since 1991.
Tucked away on the ground floor of an office building, 2941 has been recognized for seasonally-rotating menu — currently designed by Executive Chef Bertrand Chemel — and elegant setting, which includes a koi pond and a view of an artificial lake. Back in 2005, The Hill described it as a “gleaming example of suburban fine dining,” and it was called the best restaurant in Northern Virginia last year by Northern Virginia Magazine.
Dishes on Chemel’s current January tasting menu include baked Wellfleet oysters, a grilled venison chop and a chocolate biscuit with fig marmalade.
Before joining Joon, Batmanglij wrote cookbooks credited with helping introduce Iranian cuisine to the U.S., and Morgan co-founded the D.C. restaurant Maydan, which earned him a Michelin star. At the Tysons restaurant, they make kabobs and other Iranian dishes intended to showcase the country’s ethnic diversity, according to Joon’s website.
Located in the former Chef Geoff’s space, Joon also hosts a “virtual” food hall called The Kitchen Collective where local residents can pick up food from other concepts curated by Farahani, such as the D.C. restaurants Pizza Serata and Yasmine or the cookie shop Franki’s, which was inspired by Morgan’s daughter.
The finalists for the 2024 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards will be announced on April 3, and the winners will be revealed at a ceremony on June 10 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Fairfax County Casino Bill Advances — A Senate committee voted 10-4 yesterday (Wednesday) to advance the bill that would make Fairfax County eligible for a casino despite opposition from many local residents, homeowners’ organizations and some county and state elected officials who represent Reston and Tysons. “The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee for another round of review.” [Associated Press]
Vote Deferred on Housing at Franconia Government Center — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to defer its decision on the transfer of the Franconia Governmental Center property to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority. At a public hearing prior to the Board of Supervisors’ vote, many residents expressed opposition to plans to build multifamily affordable housing at the site.” [Patch]
D.C. Region Leads U.S. on Office Conversions — “RentCafe reports office-to-apartment conversions in the D.C. region that are either underway or in the pipeline will create more than 5,800 residential units, almost double the residential conversions planned in 2023. Residential conversions represent 65% of all repurposing projects of older office buildings.” [WTOP]
Community Weighs in on Huntington Area Bikeshare Expansion — “During the Q&A portion of FCDOT’s Mount Vernon District meeting, several community members voiced concerns about the proposed docking station locations.” Other attendees “expressed support for Bikeshare expansion, with one advocate noting that bikes ‘improve quality of life’ and ‘don’t just belong on the Mount Vernon Trail.'” [On the MoVe]
Water Main Construction Closes Vienna Road — “Construction has begun on a watermain on Knoll Street NW between Lewis and Nutley Streets. Existing permitted parking is limited Monday-Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and no thru traffic is allowed. The project is expected to be completed on March 15. Please use caution.” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]
Traffic-Calming Project in Great Falls Approved — “The Fairfax County Department of Transportation soon will install three traffic-calming measures along Forestville Drive…The Board of Supervisors on Jan. 23 unanimously approved the installation of one speed hump and a speed table along the street between Myra Drive and Farmingdale Court/Fairpine Lane, plus another speed hump adjacent to 1216 and 1217 Forestville Drive.” [Gazette Leader]
Registration Opens for Housing Symposium — “Registration is now open for the Fairfax County Housing Symposium. Community members, industry professionals, affordable housing users, and others working toward the common goal of a Fairfax County everyone can afford to call home are welcome to register.” The event will take place at George Mason University’s Harris Theater on March 6. [Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority]
Reston Glass Recycling Bin Relocated — “Exciting update for Reston South Park & Ride folks! Our Purple Can Club glass recycling bins are now at 2531 Reston Pkwy, Reston, VA. Check the attached map – it’s quieter and easier for truck access. Keep recycling and making a difference!” [Fairfax County Public Works/Twitter]
It’s Thursday — Expect rain and patchy fog with a high near 60. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, with new amounts ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch. At night, there’s a 60% chance of rain, likely after 1am, and patchy fog will occur before 9pm and after midnight. It will be cloudy, with a low around 55. [Weather.gov]
A new study suggests shared parking and other strategies could help the Town of Vienna address its parking challenges, which it found stem less from capacity issues than management ones.
Set to be presented to the Vienna Planning Commission tonight (Wednesday), the draft report by consultant Nelson Nygaard recommends creating a program or agreements where property owners share the town’s mostly private parking lots as an alternative to building a public garage.
“Parking capacity exists in Vienna — it’s just not available for all visitors to the Town at their immediate end destination,” the report said. “A shared parking district/program could alleviate many of these issues.”
The Vienna Town Council commissioned the parking study in June 2022 to gather updated data on the demand for and supply of parking along the town’s commercial corridor of Maple Avenue. Nelson Nygaard also assisted with the zoning code overhaul that finished in October and mostly didn’t address parking due to the ongoing study.
Based on utilization counts conducted in fall 2022 and a February 2023 community survey that drew 700 responses, the study determined that the approximately 5,127 parking spaces on Maple Avenue and other nearby commercial streets, such as Church Street, are generally underused.
Utilization appears to peak during lunchtime between noon and 2 p.m. on both weekdays and weekends. On weekdays, about 45% of off-street spaces and 65% of the town’s 94 on-street spaces are filled, while on weekends, 41% of all spaces are occupied, including about 39% of off-street spaces and 72% of on-street spaces.
Hot spots that get heavily used during those peak times are mostly on the western side of Maple Avenue and along Mill Street, including Whole Foods Market, Windover Square, Hawk & Griffin, the medical center at 305-311 Maple Avenue and the auto repair shops along Mill Street and Dominion Road.
The report notes that the auto shops on Dominion lease parking from NOVA Parks, which manages the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, so “insufficient capacity could be a potential issue if NOVA Parks ever terminated those leases.”
Even though most parking in the study area was deemed “underutilized” — defined as less than 60% occupancy — the study found that Vienna still struggles with parking in part because most lots are privately owned and restricted to visitors of specific businesses.
“This does not allow drivers to park once and walk to multiple destinations within the Town, making people drive and park in multiple locations if needing to visit more than one business,” the study said.
Shared parking agreements either between individual businesses or between property owners and the town would provide overflow options for different sites based on when they’re in demand. For example, a restaurant could use a office’s lot after work hours.
“There are areas in Vienna that have capacity issues, like Hawk and Griffin and the Wawa, where customers park in the parking lot for the Village Green shopping center,” the study said. “These areas could benefit from additional parking capacity, rather than having customers for one business park illegally in another business’s parking lot.”
Other suggested strategies include:
- Revising the zoning code to require developers to address negative parking impacts
- Allowing increased density or parking reductions “to address the gap between capacity and demand” at some developments
- Improving wayfinding signage so people are aware of the town’s limited public parking options, including at the Vienna Community Center and Patrick Henry Library
- Making parking lots more attractive with public art and “creative lighting”
Nelson Nygaard says in its report that those options should all be considered before investing in new parking facilities that can be expensive to build, operate and maintain, but it cites the garage planned with the upcoming Patrick Henry Library renovation as an example of a strategic investment that makes economic sense.
“With the pending Library reconstruction due in Fall 2024, the additional public parking supply means that the Town will not need to consider a separate parking investment (i.e., garage) in the short or mid-term future,” the report said.
In the long term, the study recommends that Vienna aim to become a “park once” district where drivers can park in one location and then get everywhere they need to go by foot, bicycle or transit, instead of driving to each destination.
After today’s planning commission presentation, the report will be shared with the Vienna Town Council at a work session on Feb. 12.
State Sen. Dave Marsden argue for his bill to make Fairfax County eligible for a casino before the state Senate’s subcommittee on gaming (via Senate of Virginia)
Updated at 6 p.m. — The Senate General Laws and Technology Committee voted 10-4 with one abstention this afternoon to report Senate Bill 675 to the finance committee, which is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
The committee will review the bill and could potentially kill it, but state Sen. Dave Marsden, who’s on the committee, says he’s confident it will pass.
Earlier: A bill that could allow a casino in Fairfax County will get a full state Senate committee hearing today (Wednesday) after just barely advancing out of a subcommittee yesterday.
The subcommittee on gaming was evenly split on state Sen. Dave Marsden’s proposal to make the county the sixth locality in Virginia eligible to host a casino, joining Bristol, Portsmouth, Danville, Norfolk and — for now — Richmond.
As promised, Marsden (D-35) put forward a substitute bill yesterday that narrowed the potential sites for the future casino down to Tysons, excluding Reston in response to lobbying by local residents and civic organizations like Reston Association.
Senate Bill 675 now states that the casino should be within two miles of a “regional enclosed mall” that’s at least 1.5 million square feet in size, a change from the initial version filed last week that said the site should be in two miles of a “major shopping destination.”
Other criteria were unchanged, including that it must be a quarter-mile from a Metro Silver Line station, part of a mixed-use development and outside of the Capital Beltway (I-495).
Though an exact location isn’t mentioned in the legislation, Marsden confirmed to FFXnow last week that developer Comstock is targeting the former Aston Martin and Bentley dealership near the Spring Hill Metro station for an entertainment complex with a casino, concert venue and conference center.
Before the subcommittee, which was chaired by Sen. Jeremy McPike (D-29), Marsden made the case that revenue from the casino could help “resurrect Fairfax County’s economy” from a stagnant office market that has squeezed the commercial tax base.
Tysons in particular is seeing a 20% office vacancy rate, and foot traffic to office buildings is just 70% of pre-pandemic levels, according to a market study that the Tysons Community Alliance released last summer. Marsden noted that placing a casino on the Silver Line would make it accessible to visitors in D.C. and Maryland as well as to the west in Loudoun County.
“It’s actually closer than MGM [National Harbor],” Marsden said. “It would be easy for people to come, and we’re also not just envisioning a casino here. What we’re talking about is a conference center that does not exist in Fairfax County. We’re also talking about a hotel and concert venue.” Read More
Annual Homelessness Count Starts Tonight — “Fairfax County, along with the greater Washington D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virgina region, will conduct a ‘Point-In-Time’ count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, beginning in the evening on January 24, 2024, and continuing through the morning of January 25.” [Housing and Community Development]
Region’s Economy Lagging, Forum Speaker Says — “The Vienna Department of Economic Development’s first-ever ‘State of the Economy’ event provided information, spectacle, tasty food and town-promoting swag to about 70 people who filled the Vienna Community Center’s auditorium Jan. 18.” Keynote speaker Keith Waters said the D.C. region’s “economic output has been lagging the nation’s for about 13 years.” [Gazette Leader]
New Fairfax City Music Venue Has Opened — ” Earp’s Ordinary moved into a 10,000-square-foot space at the end of 2023 with room for 290 patrons on Main Street in the City of Fairfax. The stage is much bigger than the one in Earp’s old space, and there’s a better sound system, says owner Michael DeMarco.” [Annandale Today]
Artists Wanted for Mural Projects — “The Fairfax County Community Revitalization Section invites artists to apply for a new murals program. ‘Paint It, Fairfax!’ is aimed at building a database of talented artists interested in creating community-focused public art in the county’s eight commercial revitalization areas.” [Annandale Today]
Bill on Retail Theft Punishment Dies — “A move to repeal a new Virginia law that makes organized retail theft a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison was defeated for this year after members of a House subcommittee voted Monday to send the bill to the Virginia State Crime Commission for further study. The new law, which went into effect in July, was passed by the state legislature last year with bipartisan support.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
Annandale Man Charged With Assault — City of Fairfax Police have charged a 34-year-old man from Annandale with assault, petit larceny, and disorderly conduct charges stemming from a recent incident at Giant Food. Officers were called around 4:19 p.m. last Thursday (Jan. 18) after a man reportedly began acting disorderly, pushing an employee and taking food without paying for it. [Patch]
County Creates Veterans and Military Families Commission — “Supervisor James Walkinshaw, who represents the Braddock District, which is home to several Purple Star Schools, introduced the proposal to create the commission as part of his board matters Tuesday morning.” The commission proposal comes after the county added a veterans coordinator position “to connect veterans, active-duty members, retirees, and military families with resources.” [Patch]
Reston Office Owner Defaults on Loan — “Reston Eastpointe at 11091 Sunset Hills Road is owned by a joint venture of Lincoln Property Co., Ritz Banc Group and Masic, which acquired the property in 2016. The venture’s $38M CMBS loan has gone into special servicing, and the lender has sent a notice of default…after the owners failed to pay off the debt ahead of a Dec. 1 maturity, the servicer, LNR Partners, wrote.” [Bisnow]
It’s Wednesday — Expect cloudy conditions with a high near 46 and a 40% chance of rain, as calm winds become southerly at 6 mph in the afternoon. There’s a 70% chance of rain Wednesday night, mainly after 1am, as temperatures rise to around 52 by 4am. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)
The upcoming capital projects plan for Fairfax County Public Schools comes with questions and uncertainties about future planning to address overcrowding and school capacity issues throughout the school system earlier this month.
Unveiled earlier this month, the new Capital Improvements Program (CIP) covers fiscal years 2025 through 2029. It sets the location, timing and funding of new schools, renovations and other capital projects over a five-year period.
At a Fairfax County School Board work session on Jan. 9, staff shared that the CIP accounts for cost increasesassociated with inflation, labor and materials increases, and prevailing wage.
Mason District Representative Ricardy Anderson pressed staff for answers how when schools in her district — namely Weyanoke Elementary School, Belvedere Elementary School and Luther Jackson Middle School — will be slated for renovation.
“Their buildings are highly problematic,” Anderson said.
Janice Szymanski, the school system’s chief of facility services and capital programs, a newly created position, said staff are working on building consensus on the renovation queue, which was last updated in 2009. The new line-up that’s currently under development isn’t reflected in the CIP at the moment.
FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid also acknowledged that the renovation process has become “a bit muddled over time,” raising the need for the new queue.
“We don’t intend to be weasely as staff, but I do think we’re building the process while we take the input, so I want to manage expectations,” Reid said.
Major projects within the next five years include construction of Dunn Loring Elementary School, capacity improvements at Justice High School and the renovation of 22 schools.
The 10-year plan projects new construction of a Silver Line elementary school and a western high school, Pinewood Lakes Early Childhood Center, Tysons Elementary School, Pimmit Hills, and Virginia Hills.
Seema Dixit, the board’s new Sully District member, said she was especially concerned about overcrowding issues on the western side of the county.
“That’s where we have to put our brains together and find some creative ways,” Dixit said, noting that land acquisition for some schools is coming far too late.
Staff hope to lay out a new renovation queue that will establish how renovations — major and minor — are planned. The current renovation line-up has funding for planning, design or construction projects through 2031.
So far, a consultant worked with stakeholders in early 2023 to create possible criteria for new facilities. Phase two of the update includes compiling data and reviewing a new queue. The final phase of the project would incorporate the new system into the annual CIP and future bond referenda.
School board members also lamented a lack of sufficient progress on pursuing net-zero energy goals. Solar power purchase agreements are in place for Annandale High School and Mason Crest Elementary School.
At-large board member Ryan McElveen said he was particularly dismayed about limited progress on ensuring schools are ready for solar power, adding that he and fellow returning at-large member Ilryong Moon developed a list of 90 schools that were on track for being solar ready when they left the board in 2019.
“That is a major blow. Obviously there are reasons for all of this and this is not just an FCPS problem. This is a county problem as well,” McElveen said, referencing the challenges that the county government has faced in implementing solar projects.
Overall, total student membership is expected to remain flat over the next five years. The county’s demographic report also projects a decline in the school-aged population through next year.
School board action on the budget is expected on Feb. 8, followed by official release of the final CIP in mid-February. A public hearing was held on Jan. 18.
The Year of the Rabbit is about to give way to the Year of the Dragon.
To welcome the Lunar New Year, which will officially begin on Feb. 10, the McLean Community Center is inviting the public to a free Year of the Dragon Festival and a show by the New York-based Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company on Sunday, Feb. 4.
The festival will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the community center (1234 Ingleside Avenue) and feature local musicians, dancers and artisans as well as food samples. In a press release, MCC teases that attendees should keep their eyes peeled for an appearance by a dragon.
The festival will be followed at 4 p.m. by the Nai-Ni Chen Dance performance in The Alden, the community center’s performing arts theater. Currently available online, tickets for the roughly 90-minute show cost $30 for general admission, $25 for seniors and students, and $20 for MCC tax district residents.
Here’s more on the company from MCC:
The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is a professional touring company founded by the visionary choreographer Nai-Ni Chen. Her company’s legacy blends contemporary American and traditional Chinese folk dance styles, creating a unique and captivating experience that reflects the inspiring hope and energy of an immigrant’s journey.
This performance will feature dance, a live musical performance on traditional Chinese instruments as well as lauded company repertoire:
- “Lion in the City,” a collaborative work by Hip-Hop legend Rokafella and Kwikstep with the company’s Director of New and Contemporary Dance, Peiju Chien-Pott.
- “Dragon Path,” a new work by emerging choreographer Aloe Ao Liu.
- “Mongolian Festival,” a new work created by resident choreographer Lawrence Jin.
“This festival is great for those who have never celebrated the Lunar New Year before as well as those who have grown up with this tradition,” The Alden Director of Youth Theatre Programs Danielle Van Hook said. “We love having additional cultural experiences prior to performances to provide a more complete picture of the cultures that art comes from.”
Spanning the 15 days between a new moon and full moon, the Lunar New Year is generally celebrated in late January or early February in China and other Asian countries with a significant Chinese population, like South Korea and Vietnam. Specific traditions vary between cultures, but they often involve family gatherings, food and musical performances.
Northern Virginia’s Vietnamese community kicked off festivities early this past weekend with the La Vang Lunar New Year Festival, which was expected to draw over 20,000 attendees to the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, according to the Washington Post.
Other scheduled events in Fairfax County include a Feb. 3 celebration at Tysons Corner Center, organized by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and the 21st annual Lunar New Year Celebration at Fair Oaks Mall, which will unfold over two days on Feb. 17-18.
Amid a docket of new policy proposals, a Virginia Senate panel heard a familiar one Monday when Sen. Jennifer Boysko again presented legislation to require employers to list a wage or salary range in all job postings and prohibit them from asking prospective employees for a salary history.
“This is the eighth time I have introduced this legislation,” Boysko told the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee before vowing to keep reintroducing the measure until it reaches the governor’s desk.
Boysko has pitched Senate Bill 370 as a way to help remedy gender pay gaps by deterring employers from relying on prior salaries to craft future compensation. The idea is that because women in Virginia as a group still make less than men, basing salary offers on past wages could perpetuate those disparities.
“Salary history is often a reflection of past discrimination,” Emily Yen, a lobbyist for the Virginia Education Association, told lawmakers.
Last April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in Virginia, the median usual weekly earnings of women who worked full-time were 80% of what their male counterparts received. Full-time workers were considered people who usually worked 35 or more hours per week at their sole or principal job.
Women’s labor advocates have also argued requiring employers to disclose wage or salary ranges provides needed transparency that can dampen inequalities by putting male and female applicants on more equal footing in compensation negotiations.
“When employers negotiate without giving salary range information to job applicants, applicants are more likely to rely on their past pay as a negotiation reference point, which perpetuates existing pay gaps,” wrote the National Women’s Law Center in a brief.
Boysko’s legislation would not prohibit prospective employees from “voluntarily disclosing wage or salary history, including for the purpose of negotiating wages or salary after an initial offer of employment.”
Employers who violated the new rules would be subject to civil penalties of between $1,000 and $4,000, depending on their history of violations, as well as potential damages.
The Senate committee passed Boysko’s legislation on a 9-6 party-line vote after concerns from Republicans about whether the bill offered employers a right to appeal any violation determinations by the state Commissioner of Labor and Industry.
“If you’re having a penalty, you should be able to appeal it to a court,” said Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover.
The bill was amended in committee to outline an appeals process. It now heads to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee for review.
Photo via Tim Gouw on Unsplash. This article was reported and written by the Virginia Mercury, and has been reprinted under a Creative Commons license.
