Author: Rebecca Watkins
BOLI ISSUES SICK LEAVE RULES – NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO WEIGH IN!
On January 1, 2016 all employers in Oregon (with a few exceptions) will be required to provide protected sick leave to all employees. The Bureau…
Join SBH at the Oregon/SW Washington DMEC Annual Chapter Meeting
Join me and a great line up of speakers and topics next Wednesday, September 16th, at the Oregon/SW Washington DMEC annual chapter meeting. Chet Nakada…
A Disabled Employee is no Longer Qualified for Job When He Makes Threats
In Mayo v PCC Structurals, Inc. (July 28, 2015), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed that an employee who makes threats of violence against…
Registration now open for OEC fall conference.
The Fall OEC conference will take place October 5th & 6th at Spirit Mountain Casino. Programming includes training on wage and hour, safety rules, employee retention,…
Oregon Enacts Paid Sick Time Law
Governor Brown signed HB 454 into law on June 22, 2015, making Oregon the fourth state to pass a state wide paid sick leave statute. …
Eugene Sick Leave Ordinance Scheduled to Go Into Effect on July 1, 2015 Postponed
The City of Eugene passed a sick leave law last July that was originally scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2015. This law…
OSHA issues guidance on transgender bathrooms
On June 1st, OSHA issued a new guide for employers regarding restroom access for transgender employees. The guide falls under OSHA’s sanitation standard that requires…
Court of Appeals clarifies compensability analysis for medical services.
By: Rebecca Watkins This month, SBH received favorable decisions from the Court of Appeals in two cases addressing compensability of medical services under ORS 656.245(1)….
Highest State Court finds PERS reform unconstitutional
By: Rebecca Watkins In a decision issued April 30th, the Oregon Supreme Court struck down a key provision of 2013 legislation concerning the Public Employees…
Join SBH at the WCCA Spring Education Conference
By: Rebecca Watkins Come join us Tuesday April 14, 2015 in Wilsonville for the WCCA Spring Education Conference. Presenters will cover topics such as investigations,…
DMEC Quarterly Roundtable Tomorrow
By: Rebecca Watkins Do FMLA & ADA issues frustrate you? DMEC hosts quarterly roundtables for employers and HR professionals to come together and discuss the…
Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule Changes
By: Rebecca Watkins The proposed changes include a number of “housekeeping” items that simply update language or make it consistent throughout the rules, and to…
Upcoming Work Sessions for Oregon Employers
The Oregon Employment Department and various workforce groups are hosting forums throughout the state in March and April to gather employer input. The goal is…
Proposed BOLI Rules
BOLI is currently proposing and taking input regarding several changes to Oregon employment regulations. Among the many newly proposed rules are the following: *Clarifications to…
Loophole in Exclusive Remedy Protections Fixed
The Oregon legislature passed SB 678, amending ORS 656.018 to include limited liability partners, partners, general partners, limited partners, and limited liaibility company members to…
Do I have to pre-approve a referral or treatment request?
We are seeing more requests to pre-authorize referrals or treatment other than elective surgery. When no pre-authorization is given, claimants or medical providers file medical…
Oregon Employer Council – State Conference for Business
Employers, HR managers, & Business Owners – The Oregon Employer Council is holding its annual State Conference for Business on May 6th & 7th on…
Court Less Likely to Find Parking Lot Injuries Compensable?
In Enterprise Rent-A-Car v Frazer, a divided Court of Appeals reversed the WCB’s finding of compensability in a parking lot injury. The employer at issue…
Discriminatory practices or just claims increasing?
According to MSNBC reports, the EEOC received a record 99,947 job-related discrimination complaints in 2011. The largest increase is in the area of religious discrimination,…
Oregon Minimum Wage increases to $8.95 for 2013
BOLI announced today that Oregon’s minimum wage will increase 15 cents to $8.95 per hour on January 1, 2013. Oregon law requires the state minimum…
Are actors and acting instructors employees or independent contractors for purposes of workers’ compensation?
Maybe. In a recent case, SAIF Corp v. DCBS and Northwest Children’s Theater and School, the Oregon Court of Appeals discussed the legal framework a…
Wal-Mart Pays the Cost of Misclassifying Employees
The Department of Labor announced today that it has settled a nationwide overtime claim with Wal-Mart. Prior to 2007, the large retail chain misclassified certain…
Unemployment Discrimination
This week, the Oregon legislature passed SB 1548 preventing discrimination against the unemployed. This new law, effective March 27, 2012, prohibits ads or job postings…
