Category: Employment Law
Shhh… or You’ll Waive It: Confidentiality Pitfalls in Oregon Workplace Investigations
When an internal investigation kicks off in an Oregon workplace, confidentiality becomes the name of the game—but too often, no one knows the actual rules….
Federal Judge Strikes Down FTC’s Ban on Worker Noncompete Agreements: What It Means for Employers
In January 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a sweeping federal ban on noncompete agreements in nearly all employment contracts—a move poised to significantly…
How exclusive is the exclusive remedy in Oregon Workers’ Compensation?
At the core of the Oregon workers’ compensation system is a compromise between workers’ and employers. Employers must provide benefits for work-related injuries even when…
New Oregon Law Amending OFLA & PLO Takes Effect July 1, 2024
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek recently signed new legislation aimed at simplifying Oregon’s leave laws. Senate Bill 1515 eliminates many types of leave previously covered under…
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act- What to Know
What is it? The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) went into effect on June 27, 2023. The PWFA is a federal law that expands existing…
New Law Restricting “No-Rehire Provisions” In Oregon Workers’ Compensation Settlement’s Takes Effect
On July 27, 2023 Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed HB 3471 into law. The bill places restrictions on when a “no-rehire” provision can be included…
2023 Legislative Wrap-Up – Key Changes for Oregon Employers
The 2023 Oregon Legislative session adjourned June 25, 2023. Below is a summary of the bills impacting Oregon employers that passed this session. SB 999…
COVID-19 Era Amendment to the Oregon Equal Pay Act to Become Permanent?
Under the current version of the Oregon Equal Pay Act, employers are prohibited from paying an employee a higher rate than a coworker for similar…
Proposed Oregon bill to disallow no-rehire provisions in workers’ compensation settlements
AFL-CIO (a conglomerate of union groups) has proposed legislation to prohibit no re-hire/reemployment/reinstatement clauses in workers’ compensation settlements. Specifically, the proposed legislation would only allow…
Federal Trade Commission Proposes Broad Ban to Non-Compete Agreements
On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that seeks to ban employers from imposing or enforcing non-compete clauses…
Washington State Requiring Salary Transparency on Job Postings Effective January 1, 2023
On January 1, 2023, RCW 49.58.110 goes into effect. This law addresses salary transparency in job postings for certain Washington State employers. In November 2022,…
Oregon Paid Family Leave Starts in 2023
The Oregon Paid Family & Medical Leave (OR PFML) program was enacted in August 2019, and beginning January 1, 2023, Oregon employers and employees will…
Washington Court of Appeals Issues New Decision Which Defines Reasonable Accommodations of Religious Beliefs – and Raises New Questions For Employers
The Washington Court of Appeals, Division 3, issued a decision on September 20, 2022 defining for the first time what is a “reasonable accommodation” of…
Equivalent Plan Applications Are Now Available For Oregon’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program
Employer and employee contributions into the Oregon Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance program are set to begin on January 1, 2023 and employees can…
Washington Silenced No More Act
Washington state passed sweeping new legislation relating to non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses in employment related agreements. In 2018, Washington implemented legislation in response to the…
Ninth Circuit Agrees Temporary Impairments Can Be Disabilities Under ADA
A recent decision by the Ninth Circuit confirms that temporary medical conditions can qualify as disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The outcome…
Questions about Oregon’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (PFMLI) program?
The Oregon Employment Department will administer this new leave program and is starting the process of outlining rules. Employers will begin collecting/paying contributions on January…
Changes Coming to Oregon’s Workplace Fairness Act January 1, 2023
The Oregon legislature made several changes and key clarifications to the Workplace Fairness Act during the 2022 legislative session. The law currently restricts employers from,…
Oregon Employment Department Finds Vaccine Mandate for Remote Workers Reasonable
The Oregon Employment Department recently denied a former Nike employee’s unemployment benefit application in February 2022. The worker, who worked remotely, was fired for failing…
Oregon CROWN Act Goes into Effect January 1, 2022
In 2021, the Oregon Legislature passed the Oregon CROWN Act. The CROWN act prohibits employers from discriminating against employees and potential employees based on hairstyles…
BOLI Enacts Temporary Rules Implementing Senate Bill 483
Senate Bill 483 was signed into law by Governor Brown on June 15, 2021. Yesterday, the Bureau of Labor and Industries filed Temporary Rules with…
Washington Employers Receive Guidance on WPFML from the State
Employers have been attempting to implement the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (WPFMLA) with little guidance from the Employment Security Department. In the…
Oregon Passes CROWN Act
Oregon joins a number of states in prohibiting discrimination based on hairstyles associated with a person’s race. Governor Brown signed HB2935 on June 11, 2021….
BOLI Passes Permanent Rules Relating to OFLA Sick Child Leave During Public Health Emergency
In March 2020, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) temporarily expanded Oregon Family Leave Act leave to extend protected leave to include employee leave…
Join Attorney Jamie Carlton in Webinar: Can Employer’s Require Vaccines?
Join SBH Attorney Jamie Carlotn and Nicolle Farup of Good Company HR as they discuss whether employers can and should require vaccines. This all-important webinar…
