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 start applying for benefits beginning September 3, 2023. Alternatively, employers can provide their own paid family and medical leave program if it is equivalent or better than the benefits provided by Paid Leave Oregon and is approved by the Oregon Employment Department.
The Oregon Employment Department has now opened the application process for approval of equivalent plans (found here). There is a non-refundable fee for equivalent plan applications of $250. Employers with approved equivalent plans, and employees working for an employer offering an equivalent plan, do not have to pay contributions to Paid Leave Oregon.
The Oregon Employment Department’s resources web page has information for employers offering equivalent plans, including an equivalent plan web page, videos on equivalent plans in English and Spanish, fact sheets, a checklist, and a guidebook for employers.
If you are an employer that employs one or more employees anywhere in the state of Oregon and you already offer paid leave to your employees or are thinking about doing so, consider applying to have that paid leave plan recognized as an equivalent plan to avoid paying and collecting contributions on January 1, 2023.
If you have any questions regarding the PFMLA, please do not hesitate to contact me at or 503-595-6112.
Posted by Randi Ensley.
