Under Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Order 21-15, the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 will continue in Oregon until December 31, 2021, unless the governor extends the deadline or terminates the state of emergency before the end of the year. Now that school is back in session
Articles Discussing General Topics In Oregon Labor & Employment Law.
Oregon Changes Temporary Rule Requiring Healthcare Worker Vaccinations
On August 5, 2021, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) adopted a temporary rule on an emergency basis requiring healthcare providers and healthcare staff who work in healthcare settings to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face periodic COVID-19 testing by September 30, 2021.
Oregon Issues New Rule Requiring Vaccinations of Healthcare Workers by Mid-October
Following on the heels of an executive order by Oregon’s governor requiring full vaccination for teachers, staff and volunteers in K12 schools, the Oregon Health Authority yesterday issued a new rule requiring that healthcare providers and healthcare staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 as of October 18, 2021.
Oregon Reinstates Mask Mandate
Effective August 13, 2021, Oregon Governor Kate Brown will implement a statewide mask mandate for all children and adults ages 5 and older in all indoor public spaces regardless of vaccination status. This order will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. The existing requirement that all Oregonians ages
Oregon Enacts Temporary Rule Requiring Healthcare Worker Vaccinations or COVID-19 Testing
In recent weeks, Oregon has seen a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, which threatens to overwhelm local hospitals. On August 5, 2021, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) adopted a temporary rule on an emergency basis
Oregon Announces Coming Rule for Weekly Tests of Unvaccinated Healthcare Workers
On August 4, 2021, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced that the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) will create a rule requiring healthcare workers to submit to weekly COVID-19 testing if they are not vaccinated. Based on the governor’s announcement, OHA’s rule will require healthcare workers to show they have been
Oregon Issues Temporary Rule Expanding the Scope of its Paid Sick Leave Law During a Public Health Emergency
On July 22, 2021, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) issued a temporary rule that expands the reasons employees can use leave under Oregon’s paid sick and safe leave law during a public health emergency. Under the rule, effective immediately and through January 17, 2022, eligible employees
Opening Pandora’s Box: Oregon Court of Appeals Holds That “Any Person” Can Be Held Liable Under Oregon’s Aiding and Abetting Statute
On June 23, 2021, in Charlton v. Ed Staub and Sons Petroleum, Inc. and Quicksilver Contracting Company, the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal of the plaintiff’s “aiding and abetting” discrimination and retaliation claim. Applying the Oregon Court of Appeals’ recent decision, Hernandez v. Catholic Health Initiatives, the
Oregon OSHA Enacts Emergency Rules to Protect Workers From Extreme Heat
On July 8, 2021, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) adopted temporary rules to bolster worker protections from the hazards of high and extreme heat, including requirements to provide shade, drinking water, cool-down breaks, an effective emergency medical plan, and training to all employees. Oregon OSHA adopted
Employment Highlights from Oregon’s Active 2021 Legislative Session
June 2021 culminated in the elimination of COVID-19 restrictions in Oregon and significant changes to the state’s employment laws during the 2021 legislative session. On June 25, 2021, Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order 21-15 rescinding all remaining COVID-19 restrictions, allowing businesses to operate without a mask mandate or
Oregon OSHA Issues Temporary Heat Standard
On July 8, 2021, Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA) adopted emergency Heat Illness Prevention rules to establish workplace heat safety requirements that apply when temperatures in a work area reach or exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The rules are effective immediately.
Oregon Temporarily Allows Vaccine Incentives and Hiring Bonuses
The Oregon legislature has temporarily amended Oregon’s Equal Pay Act to allow employers latitude to both encourage COVID-19 vaccinations and to attract new employees as the state emerges from COVID-19 business restrictions. Under the revised statute, when evaluating whether employees who perform work of comparable character are paid equitably, a comparison
Oregon Lifts Most Statewide Mask, Distancing, and Capacity Restrictions: What Employers Need to Know
Effective June 30, 2021, Oregon Governor Kate Brown, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) lifted most statewide mask and physical distancing restrictions related to COVID-19, with limited exceptions. Mask requirements remain in place in some specialized settings, including healthcare, emergency medical
Oregon Governor Brown Announces End of COVID-19 Restrictions
On June 25, 2021, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed Executive Order No. 21-15 (the “Recovery Order”), lifting the vast majority of Oregon’s COVID-19 restrictions as of Wednesday, June 30, 2021. The Recovery Order eliminates the statewide mask mandate, as well as requirements for physical distancing indoors, capacity limits, and vaccine verification.
Oregon Enhances Whistleblower Protections for Workplace Safety Complaints
On June 15, 2021, Governor Kate Brown signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 483, which amends the Oregon Safe Employment Act to increase whistleblower protections for workplace safety complaints.
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