http://www.elinfonet.com/starticles/38 Articles discussing workplace law in Oregon. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:10:01 EST en-us 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. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=1861 Article: 1861 Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) Recent legislation in Oregon and Washington will have a major impact on all Northwest employers, and there are likely more changes on the immediate horizon. This Legal Alert will point out the most significant changes to the law in both states. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=1576 Article: 1576 Fri, 19 May 2006 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) The Oregon Supreme Court unanimously reversed a lower court decision that had expanded the definition of "disability" to require employers to reasonably accommodate medical marijuana-using employees. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=1569 Article: 1569 Tue, 09 May 2006 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) The Oregon Supreme Court stepped into the medical marijuana debate and sided with employers by overturning the Washburn v. Columbia Forest Products decision on May 4, 2006. While the decision technically keeps some slim hopes alive for employees who believe their employers need to accommodate their medical marijuana use, Oregon employers should now feel fairly confident that they can consistently enforce their drug policies. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=1252 Article: 1252 Mon, 14 Mar 2005 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) An Oregon state court has permitted an employee who used medical marijuana and was fired for testing positive on a workplace drug test to proceed with his claim that his employer failed to accommodate his request for a different type of drug test. http://www.elinfonet.com/newscount.php?stateID=1222 Article: 1222 Mon, 24 Jan 2005 00:00:00 EST elin@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) The Oregon Court of Appeals has issued a ruling granting greater rights to employees who use medical marijuana and preventing employers from automatically disciplining those employees who test positive for marijuana in the workplace. The case, Washburn v. Columbia Forest Products, Inc., was issued on January 12 and will immediately change the landscape of Oregon employment law.