A Note From the Director
Greetings! As you may know the 2026 DHRM HR Leadership Conference, Control + Alt + Delete: HR Reboot and Reimagine will be held September 28-30 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. This is a great opportunity for HR professionals, workforce leaders, and practitioners from across the Commonwealth to come together to explore the future of human resources in state government and higher education. More details on registration and the agenda will be available soon! We hope you can join us!
As of yesterday afternoon, we have an approved FY27-FY28 Budget! Additional information to include the annual compensation memo will be sent shortly.
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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Overtime Leave Compliance Report
The new Cardinal Overtime Leave Compliance Report is available to assist agencies in complying with DHRM Policy 3.20 – Overtime. This new report provides visibility into overtime leave balances and calculates payout amounts for employees whose balances exceed the 80-hour threshold. This report is designed to support agencies and DHRM in monitoring compliance and managing fiscal year-end payouts and balance adjustments efficiently.
Interim, Mid-Year Performance Reviews Resource
Now is a perfect time to encourage your agency supervisors to conduct interim, mid-year performance reviews. The article: Reducing Legal Exposure When Managing Employee Performance Issues provides basic but solid guidance that is helpful to supervisors. Please share with your supervisors and managers.
Effective immediately, the Expiring Application Access report in Securepass displays application access that is scheduled to expire, not access that has already expired. Click on the link above to learn more information.
Unlock powerful, nationally validated compensation insights through DHRM’s exclusive discount access to the Mercer Compensation Benchmarking Platform. This high-value resource provides essential market data to strengthen compensation planning, support competitive pay decisions, and enhance your agency’s ability to conduct comprehensive compensation studies. Click on the link above for more information.
Engagement
Governor Abigail Spanberger recently signed bipartisan legislation creating Virginia’s first State Internship Coordinator, a new role within DHRM that will focus on strengthening state internship programs and expanding internship opportunities in government agencies to more Virginia students. Click on the link above to see the full press release.
COVA Internship Connection
The COVA Internship Connection kicked off Summer 2026 with energy and momentum! More than 100 interns joined us for an engaging day of sessions focused on professionalism, time management, and communication, along with inspiring remarks from special guest Secretary of Administration Traci J. Deshazor.
DHRM is excited to build on this momentum and continue advancing initiatives that make Virginia the best place for interns to learn, grow, and launch their careers. For more information on the COVA Internship Connection, visit our website.
The Virginia Management Fellows Program proudly congratulated Cohort 7 on the successful completion of their two-year fellowship on June 24, 2026. We applaud their growth, accomplishments, and contributions to the Commonwealth, and we look forward to the continued impact they will make in their careers. Click on the link above for more information.
The CMP continues to thrive with a 90% retention rate, growing participation, and inspiring results—confidence is building, goals are being achieved, and networks are expanding. As we approach the August graduation, we’re seeking a few more Mentors to guide the next class of emerging leaders. The 2026-2027 cohort starts on September 3, and your leadership can make a lasting impact across the Commonwealth’s workforce! Click on the link above to learn more and apply by June 30.
Workforce Development Information & Updates
The accounts in external domains that have not been accessed in 2 or more years and data for state employees that have been separated for 5 or more years and have not returned were deleted in the COVLC on June 22. This is an annual process to meet Library of Virginia records retention schedules. Click on the link above to learn more.
eCommerce on the COV Learning Center
The COV Learning Center (COVLC) now has an eCommerce functionality. Each agency can use this functionality to charge for courses within the COVLC. If an agency is interested in this functionality, they must to contact the COVLC Help Desk at covlchelpdesk@dhrm.virginia.gov to schedule a meeting to discuss the process.
Connect with your local SHRM chapter to strengthen your impact as an HR professional serving the Commonwealth. Local chapters offer practical learning, peer connections, leadership development, and timely resources that help you navigate today's workplace challenges. By engaging with HR professionals across industries, you'll gain fresh perspectives, share best practices, and build a network that supports both your career growth and the success of the employees and organizations you serve.
One example is the Richmond SHRM Fall Mentoring Program that is now accepting interest from HR professionals who are ready to expand their professional network, strengthen their leadership capabilities, and learn from peers across the HR profession. Whether you're an experienced leader looking to give back or an emerging professional seeking guidance, this program offers a meaningful opportunity to grow. Click on the link above to learn more.
On June 12, DHRM offered the second installment of its LeadVA Speaker Series of webinars - Building Your Superteam: A Practical Guide to High-Performing Teams in Government. Nicole Overley, commissioner of Virginia Works, shared best practices for developing and leading a team. Click on the link above to learn more
COVA Leading By Design Fall Session Available!
Enrollment is now open for the third cohort for the COVA Leading by Design Program. COVA Leading by Design is a dynamic, research-informed leadership development program designed for all state government leaders to help elevate their leadership presence and drive meaningful results through six interactive and thought-provoking workshops.
Please see the course entry on the COVLC for more information about the program and requirements. Registration can be completed by August 7 via the Commonwealth of Virginia Learning Center (COVLC). Please contact workforce.development@dhrm.virginia.gov with any questions about the program.
From Content to Impact – Learning That Works is a 6-session learning experience designed to empower anyone who builds or delivers learning—whether you're a formal trainer, subject matter expert, team lead, or occasional presenter. Grounded in science-based learning, adult learning principles, and practical application, this program will help you design and deliver learning that is engaging, inclusive, and effective. Click on link above to learn more.
In Case You Missed...
As we continue our journey to automate and streamline HR processes, we are excited to announce that the Probationary Review Process in PageUp is live! Supervisors must create performance objectives for their new employees and will evaluate progress using these objectives and competencies. The system is aligned with the updated Policy 1.45 – Probationary Period. Click on the link above for more information.
This is a reminder that DHRM’s updated Overtime Policy 3.20 became effective December 1, 2025. One key requirement in the policy is that employees are limited to carrying forward no more than 80 hours of overtime leave each fiscal year. Click on the link above for more information.
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.
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.
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.
Comings...& Goings ....
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Please join us in offering a warm welcome to Mr. Michael Harris on his new role as the DHRM Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Harris has over 23 years of experience in accounting and finance, leading large finance and human resources teams, as well as operations and IT functions. He had responsibility for payroll, benefits administration, performance management, onboarding, and training and development. Michael has implemented many large-scale systems integrations and conversions.
He holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. Michael is involved in several professional associations including the Greater Washington Society of CPA's and serves on several Boards of Directors including the CASH Campaign of Maryland and the Tuckahoe Family YMCA. Welcome Michael!
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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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