Category: Employment Law

June 23, 2017
by Rebecca Watkins

Minimum Wage Increases July 1, 2017

Oregon’s second rate increase under 2016 legislation goes into effect on July 1, 2017. The minimum wage for your company turns on your location. The…

March 2, 2017
by Rebecca Watkins

Disability/Leave Roundtable for Employers

The Oregon/SW Washington chapter of the DMEC is hosting a free lunch roundtable on March 15, 2017. Employers, HR professionals, and leave administrators are encouraged…

November 23, 2016
by Rebecca Watkins

Federal Court Stops DOL Exempt Salary Changes

On December 1st, the Department of Labor’s new rule regarding exemptions from overtime was set to go into effect. A ruling from a federal court…

August 31, 2016
by Rebecca Watkins

Proposed clarifications to Oregon Sick Leave rules

Acting on employer requests, BOLI has proposed additions and amendments to its rules about state sick leave. The proposed changes address the definition of “employee”…

August 30, 2016
by Sarah Ewing

“Concerted Action Waiver” violates the NLRA

Are you aware that as an employer you can violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) whether your employees are unionized or not? A recent…

June 28, 2016
by Rebecca Watkins

Minimum wage increases on July 1st.

The minimum wage increases for Oregon employers this Friday. For the first time, Oregon will have three different minimum wage levels depending on the region…

May 20, 2016
by Sarah Ewing

New Changes to Overtime Rules Affect Millions of Workers

The Department of Labor (DOL) just released new rules that will affect millions of workers who are currently exempt from overtime. Workers can be exempt…

May 13, 2016
by Megan Vaniman

NLRB rules it’s your right to be unhappy at work

Want to be unhappy at work? Now grumpy employees have the law on their side. The Communications Workers of America Local 7011 Union challenged T-Mobile’s employee handbook…

December 17, 2015
by Lee Ann Lowe

New Oregon Sick Leave Law

Effective January 1, 2016, all Oregon employers are required to implement sick leave for all employees.  Here is what you need to know about the…

December 10, 2015
by Rebecca Watkins

BOLI clarifies the obligations to temporary and leased employees under State Sick Time in permanent rules.

BOLI has now issued final rules on the Oregon Sick Time law going into effect January 1, 2016.  The final rules reflect clarifications requested by…

December 3, 2015
by Andrew Evenson

Portland passes new “ban the box” ordinance

Last month, the Portland City Council unanimously approved a more stringent “ban the box” ordinance than its State counterpart. The Portland ordinance is designed to…

October 16, 2015
by 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…

October 8, 2015
by Aaron Bass

Judge Denies Class-Certification for SBH Client

Attorneys Aaron Bass and Rebecca Watkins have been vigorously defending a class-action lawsuit filed in Washington since June 2012.  The lawsuit, following a national trend…

October 2, 2015
by Andrew Evenson

2015 Legislative Update: What’s New for Oregon Employers

The 2015 Oregon State Legislative session included the passage of several bills affecting Oregon employers, employees, and the relationship they share.  Most relevant to Oregon…

August 13, 2015
by Rebecca Watkins

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…

July 24, 2015
by Rebecca Watkins

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. …

June 23, 2015
by Rebecca Watkins

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…

June 18, 2015
by Sarah Ewing

Neutral Policy Can Violate Title VII Based On New United States Supreme Court Case.

If you have ever been in an Abercrombie & Fitch store, you probably noticed all its employees are dressed in its clothes and look a…