Category: Uncategorized
COVID Reopening: Can (and should) Oregon Employers Require Employees to be Vaccinated?
As businesses reopen and bring back employees who have been working remotely, many employers are wondering how to manage worksite safety in the pandemic era….
Trial Attorneys and Unions Pushing for COVID-19 Presumption Legislation
On June 23, 2020, Governor Brown directed the Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) to explore any gaps in our current workers’ compensation system related to COVID-19,…
Oregon – COVID-19 Incident Reports, Workers’ Comp, Wage and Leave Issues
As Oregon employers continue to face unique issues in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus, SBH has assembled this list of commonly asked questions addressing…
Employer Disability and Leave Roundtable
Join SBH for the next Employer Disability and Leave Roundtable September 10, 2019. We invite you to join us September 10th for the next Kaiser…
WCB issues new rules related to translation of written documents at hearing
After several months of deliberation, the board passed new rules requiring translation of non-English documents for hearing. OAR 438-007-0045. The parties can either stipulate to…
2019 Oregon Legislative Update
It has been a busy year in the Oregon legislature, but there has been only one major change to the statutes governing workers’ compensation. Senate…
Join Me at the 17th Annual SBH Oregon Claims Professional Workshop
SBH is hosting its 17th annual Oregon Claims Professional Workshop on November 2, 2017 at the Holiday Inn in Wilsonville. Covered topics include lessons in…
Benefit to Employers Who Offer Paid Family Leave
Are you an employer who offers paid family and/or medical leave? If so, you may qualify for a tax credit for tax years 2018 and…
BOLI issues proposed rules for Equal Pay Law
The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (“BOLI”) recently issued proposed rules implementing the Oregon Equal Pay Law, most provisions of which take effect on January…
Sather, Byerly & Holloway Welcomes New Partner
Sather, Byerly & Holloway, LLP is pleased to announce Rebecca Watkins is a partner effective July 1, 2018. Rebecca manages the firm’s appellate department….
Join Sarah Ewing in WSIA’s Webinar Discussing the New Paid Family & Medical Leave Law
Please join me on October 6, 2017 as I present with other panelists in a live webinar to discuss Washington’s new Paid Family & Medical…
Oregon’s Distracted Driving Law Goes into Effect October 1
As of October 1, 2017 any use of mobile devices will be prohibited while driving in Oregon. Like the law in Washington, which went into…
Washington passes strict distracted driving law
Hopefully you are reading this blog post from the safety of your computer and not while driving. If you are using your cell phone to…
Join SBH Attorney Lauren Oda at WSIA Region Meetings
Lauren Oda will be presenting with orthopaedic surgeon Scott Kitchel, M.D. at four WSIA Region Meetings in April. Lauren and Dr. Kitchel will discuss common…
Board’s new attorney fee rules go into effect on November 1.
The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board passed revised attorney fee rules on October 13, 2016. The most significant changes involve increased attorney fees for disputed claims…
Join SBH at the DMEC ADAAA/Family Leave Roundtable
Please join me on Wednesday April 6, 2016 at the DMEC ADAAA/Family Leave Roundtable. This is a great opportunity for employers to bring questions and…
New Bill Alters Timeline for Initial Time Loss Payment
On January 1, 2016, House Bill 2797 went into effect, modifying when initial temporary disability payments must be made. Prior to January 1, 2016, if…
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,…
LHWCA Caselaw Update
Over the last three months there have been several noteworthy decisions under the Longshore and Harbors Workers’ Compensation Act. In M.K. v. California United Terminals,…
Up in smoke? What Measure 91 means for your Employment Policy
On July 1, 2015, Measure 91 goes into effect in Oregon, signifying recreational marijuana’s legality statewide. Of course, its “legality” comes with several limitations. Measure…
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)….
Large Increase in Oregon Average Weekly Wage
By: Lauren Oda The Workers’ Compensation Division issued the revised Bulletin 111 May 18, 2015. According to the Bulletin, Oregon’s State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW)…
Oregon Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Brown v. SAIF
By: Megan Vaniman In May 2014, the Oregon Court of Appeals issued Brown v. SAIF, 262 Or App 640 (2014). The case changed the test…
Supreme Court allows personal estate to pursue Workers’ Compensation Claims
By: Steve Verotsky Recently, the Oregon Supreme Court reversed the Workers’ Compensation Board and Court of Appeals and determined that a worker’s estate is authorized…
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…
