A Note From the Director
Greetings! Preparations are underway for the 2026 DHRM HR Leadership Conference, Control + Alt + Delete: HR Reboot and Reimagine. A Call for Proposals has been issued for both internal and external speakers/subject matter experts. If you or a member of your team is interested in speaking, please submit a proposal.To submit proposal, please refer to the Call for Proposals guidelines. All proposals must be submitted by Friday, June 12, 2026 via email to hrevents@dhrm.virginia.gov.
We hope all state employees had a fun and exciting time during Virginia Public Service Week which was held May 4-8! Please share photos with us! We would love to feature your Public Service Week photos in the next issue of the Employee Experience magazine. Submit photos here!
As a reminder, Employment Opportunities Plans are due by June 30th and Workforce Plans are due by September 30th each year. The information from these plans is an important asset that will help us evaluate the effectiveness of our employee engagement efforts.
Thank you!
Janet L. Lawson, DHRM Director
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The General Assembly approved legislation (HB 636/SB 215) to establish pay transparency and salary history requirements for employers effective July 1, 2026. Click on the link above to learn more about the key provisions of the regulation.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has published a technical amendment on May 14, 2026 that formally removes the vacated 2024 FLSA salary thresholds from 29 CFR Part 541 and restores the 2019 salary thresholds. Click on the link above to learn more.
The one-time bonus is included in the directives found in Chapter 7 of the 2026 Amendments to the 2025 Virginia Acts of Assembly. Please take some time to review the Memo and FAQs which are also accessible on the DHRM Compensation website. Click on the link above for more information.
Engagement
Happening Now! Health Benefits Open Enrollment May 15- 29, 2026!
Open Enrollment is officially underway! Now through Friday, May 29, 2026, benefit‑eligible employees can:
- Enroll in or make changes to their health plan
- Add or remove eligible family members
- Enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Waive state health coverage
Important: Employees must enroll every year if they want to participate in an FSA. Premium Reward incentive requirements completed between January 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026 will take effect on July 1, 2026.
For full details, visit the DHRM Open Enrollment 2026–27 webpage.
Please encourage all eligible employees to review their options and submit any changes before the deadline. For questions, employees should contact their agency Benefits Administrator.
The Office of Workforce Engagement is pleased to announce that applications for the 2026–2027 Commonwealth Mentorship Program (CMP)—including the newly launched Leadership Track—are now open until June 30th. Agency HR leaders are encouraged to share this opportunity with employees seeking to grow professionally, strengthen leadership capabilities, and build meaningful cross‑agency connections. The current CMP cohort is entering its ninth month and continues to demonstrate strong engagement with an impressive 88% retention rate, underscoring the program’s value and impact across the Commonwealth.
Please help us spread the word and encourage interested employees to apply for either the Mentor, Mentee, or Leadership Track pathways while the application window is open.
Workforce Development Information & Updates
Learn Team-building Secrets for Leaders of all Levels!
The Leadership Speaker Series, an on-going series of virtual learning sessions to provide actionable management tools for people leaders across the Commonwealth, continues June 12 as Nicole Overley, Commissioner of Virginia Works, will present Building Your Superteam: A Practical Guide to High-Performing Teams in Government. Click here to register for this exciting session!
Learn to Manage Changes Large & Small – A Practical Course for Today’s Government Leaders
In The Joyful Change Leader, discover how to lead change with practical strategies rooted in positive psychology, neuroscience, and psychological safety for today’s ever-changing workplace.
MVP Curriculum Getting Major Upgrades
The Workforce Development team is actively updating the online Managing Virginia Program (MVP). The first revamped module, Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy, is available now in the Commonwealth of Virginia Learning Center (COVLC) with additional MVP updates coming throughout the coming year and beyond. Watch this space for new releases as they become available.
The COV Learning & Development Network held its first event for 2026 on May 13, Guiding the Journey. During this interactive event, we explored three essential pillars of talent development: effective onboarding, impactful coaching and mentoring, and sustainable leadership development. Participants gained insights, shared best practices, and engaged in meaningful discussions that highlight how these elements work together to shape the future of talent. Click on the link above to learn more.
From Content to Impact: Learning That Works – Congratulations Cohort 2!
DHRM’s Workforce Development Team congratulates cohort 2 graduates who recently completed the From Content to Impact: Learning That Works program. From Content to Impact: Learning That Works is a 7-session learning experience designed to empower anyone who builds or delivers learning—whether you're a formal trainer, subject matter expert, program manager, team lead, manager, or occasional presenter. Grounded in science-based learning, adult learning principles, and practical application, this program helps anyone who designs and delivers learning that is engaging, inclusive, and effective.
Participants developed a deeper understanding of how people learn, were introduced to tools to make their content more impactful, learned about strategies to engage diverse learners, and built confidence in using technology and platforms to support learning.
COVA Leading by Design – Congratulations Cohort 2!
DHRM’s Workforce Development Team congratulates the newest cohort of graduates from the COVA Leading by Design program, which debuted in 2026. COVA Leading by Design is a dynamic, research-informed leadership development program created to help managers elevate their leadership presence and drive meaningful results. Through six interactive and thought-provoking workshops, the class explored the science and behaviors behind high-performing teams and discovered practical tools to lead with clarity, authenticity, and impact.
The COV Learning & Development Network held its first event for 2026 on May 13, Guiding the Journey development: effective onboarding, impactful coaching and mentoring, and sustainable leadership development. Participants gained insights, shared best practices, and engaged in meaningful discussions that highlight how these elements work together to shape the future of talent. Click on the link above for more information.
In Case You Missed...
In accordance with the Code of Virginia § 2.2-602, this message serves as a friendly reminder for the submission of your agency’s 2025 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Annual Report – on or before July 1, 2026. This report should include your agency’s progress against 2025 goals as mandated by prior requirements per Executive Order 10 on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion dated March 11, 2022. Click on the link above for more information.
DHRM has partnered with Cardinal to develop guidance for HR and Payroll professionals in support of the June 16, 2026 One-Time Bonus Payment. We encourage agencies to review Cardinal’s FY26 Legislative Increase site, the FY2026 Legislative Bonus Processing Forum, and DHRM's FY26 June One-Time Bonus FAQ’s for detailed information and required actions to take to properly facilitate the one-time bonus. Click on the link above for more information.
Since the launch of the Pay Action Worksheet (PAW) application in October 2025, we have continued to gather and act on agency feedback to enhance the application. We appreciate your input and are pleased to share several enhancements that make the PAW application more efficient. Click on the link above for an Overview of Key Enhancements Effective June 1, 2026.
We encourage each agency to visit our webpage to register your interns, as space is limited. Attendees can also register to showcase their summer accomplishments at the COVA Internship Connection Impact Expo. Registration Closes: 7/15/2026. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Program Manager, Jasmine Walker. See the list of special events by clicking on the link above.
Comings...& Goings ....
It is bittersweet to announce that, after 27 years of State service, Debbie Rigdon will be leaving DHRM and retiring on August 1st. She has ably served in a variety of professional HR positions in the public sector, following related private sector experience. The City of Richmond, the (Virginia) Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry were the benefactors of her talent before she joined DHRM 17 years ago. She has served as the manager of our Shared Services Center, as a consultant to a variety of agencies, and as our Senior Policy Consultant (since 2019). In addition to her vast knowledge of employment law, HR best practices, and pragmatic approach to policy application, she is recognized for her consummate customer service and wise counsel. While she will be sorely missed, we are grateful for her many contributions and wish her the best in her much - deserved next chapter.
Debbie is not enamored with biographical summaries of her career but wants to express her heartfelt sentiments regarding the community she has served:
“I’ve enjoyed a great career with state government and loved that my role in DHRM provided me with the opportunity to work with so many wonderful HR professionals both within DHRM and across state government. Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same (Flavia Weedn). I am blessed with many footprints on my heart and I am truly grateful. All the best." – Debbie Rigdon
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We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca Lane as the new Senior Policy Consultant within out Talent Acquisition and Policy Services team. Rebecca transfered to DHRM from the Department of Wildlife Resources where she served as the Human Resources Director for nearly 10 years.
She has an additional 8 years of experience working at the Department of Corrections and VDOT. Rebecca also served as an HR Director in the private sector. She holds a BS in Organizational Management and Development and her SHRM-CP credential. Rebecca's practitioner experience in large, complex state agencies and demonstrated strategic planning skills will serve our customers well in her role.
Rebecca is passionate about diving into mystery novels, exploring new places with her family, and keeping up with space-fantasy lore (aka: Star Wars geek).
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Published by the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management
www.dhrm.virginia.gov
600 East Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
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