http://www.elinfonet.com/starticles/38 Articles discussing workplace law in Oregon. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:11:59 EST en-us http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=2777 Article: 2777 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) The national drive toward improved health care coverage and education coupled with Oregon's beleaguered economy provided most of the legislative thunder for the state's 2009 session. While employment law issues were not completely absent, much of that legislation centered on creating jobs in a state where the unemployment rate is second only to Michigan's. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=2768 Article: 2768 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) Oregon's Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) signed SB 519 on June 30, 2009. The new law, referred to by its opponents as the "Employer Gag Bill," and heralded by its supporters as the "Worker Freedom Act," prohibits employers from mandating employee attendance at meetings involving an employer's opinions regarding religious or political matters and prohibits employers from taking any adverse employment action against employees who decline to attend those meetings. One of the practical effects of the law is to try and impose a substantial change to union organizing campaigns in Oregon's workplaces. The law is effective January 1, 2010. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=2759 Article: 2759 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) Organized labor’s primary goal for the 2009 Oregon bi-annual legislative session was to pass a law barring employers from conducting mandatory meetings or otherwise communicating with employees about their views on whether employees should unionize. This came in the form of Senate Bill 519 (SB 519). On June 22, 2009, the Oregon House of Representatives passed SB 519 by a 34-24 vote. Earlier, the Senate had passed the bill by a narrow 16-14 vote. If signed by Governor Ted Kulongoski, the law would go into effect January 1, 2010. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=2641 Article: 2641 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) On January 12, 2009, Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) clarified meal and rest period requirements in situations where it is an "undue hardship" for an employer to provide a 30-minute, uninterrupted meal period to its employees. Starting on March 16, 2009, if employers wish to rely on the "undue hardship" exception, they must provide written notice on required BOLI forms to affected employees. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=2568 Article: 2568 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) Oregon's minimum wage increased forty-five cents, from $7.95 to $8.40, effective January 1, 2009. The increase comes thanks to an Oregon statute requiring the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) to calculate a minimum-wage adjustment each September. The adjustment is based on any increase during the previous 12 months in the U.S. City Average Consumer Price Index (CPI). http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=2275 Article: 2275 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) On June 11th, the Oregon Court of Appeals dealt a blow to employers fighting medical marijuana in the workplace, letting stand an administrative decision which had granted a victory to a medical marijuana user (Emerald Steel Fabricators, Inc. v. Bureau of Labor and Industries). Although the decision was largely based on technical grounds, the Court of Appeals passed up an opportunity to side with employers and the decision may lend comfort to workers’ advocates who support looser workplace drug rules. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=2236 Article: 2236 Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) In a decision that is sure to please Oregon employers, the Oregon Supreme Court, in Gafur v. Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center , held that Oregon employees do not have a private right of action to recover wages for rest period claims brought under Oregon wage and hour laws. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=2228 Article: 2228 Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) Although the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) has promulgated regulations which require every Oregon employer to provide employees ten-minute rest periods for every segment of four hours of work, the Oregon Supreme Court has held that a violation of BOLI's rest period regulations does not give rise to a private right of action for unpaid wages. Gafur v. Legacy Good Samaritan Hosp. & Med. Ctr., __ P.3d __ (May 15, 2008). While Oregon employers should remain vigilant in ensuring employees are provided mandatory rest breaks, the Supreme Court's decision all but forecloses the prospect of class action litigation based on rest period violations. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=2115 Article: 2115 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) Over the weekend, the state finalized a new law that may end up having a dramatic impact on several important industries. Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed into effect a much stricter driver’s license requirement that forces applicants to prove American citizenship or legal immigrant status before getting a new or renewed driver’s license. It goes into effect on July 1, 2008, and could have far-reaching consequences in the agriculture, construction and hospitality industries, among others. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=1885 Article: 1885 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) Oregon employers who fail to provide employees with rest breaks required under Oregon state law may be liable to employees for unpaid wages and penalties following a June 13, 2007, ruling of the Oregon Court of Appeals. The court in Gafur v. Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital held that rules promulgated by Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), which guarantee employees a paid ten-minute rest break for every four hours of work, may be enforced by employees through Oregon's wage payment statute, ORS 653.055.