Annual Survey of Virginia Law: Labor and Employment Law

This article discusses six areas of labor and employment law in which there was significant activity in Virginia's courts over the past year: (1) covenants not to compete and employee's fiduciary duties to employers; (2) the doctrine of respondeat superior; (3) negligent hiring, retention, and supervision; (4) wrongful discharge in violation of public policy; (5) workers' compensation exclusivity; and (6) employment agreements. Beyond the scope of this article are decisions rendered in other areas of law that affect the employment relationship, including defamation, claims under Virginia's Occupational Safety and Health Act, public employment claims, and unemployment compensation claims.