Articles Discussing Oregon Wage & Hour Issues.

The Court of Appeals of the State of Oregon recently held in Athena v. Pelican Brewing Co. that the pay required for meal periods lasting less than thirty minutes is considered a wage under Oregon law, rather than a penalty. This distinction provides for a private right of action for

Oregon law requires employers to provide employees with itemized wage statements on regular paydays. Such statements must include details, such as date of payment, dates of work covered, employee’s name, employer’s name and contact information, pay rates, gross and net wages, deductions, and hours worked. Statements can be provided electronically

Oregon Expands Reasons Employees Can Use Paid Sick Leave to Include Blood Donation

On May 28, 2025, Oregon’s governor signed SB 1108, which, effective January 1, 2026, expands the reasons employees can use legally required paid sick leave to include blood donation connected with a voluntary program approved or accredited

Oregon Minimum Wage Increase Takes Effect July 1, 2025

On July 1, 2025, Oregon’s automatic minimum wage increase for non-exempt employees will take effect. Under Oregon state law, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) calculates an annual increase to the minimum wage rate based on the Bureau of

On March 20, 2024, Governor Tina Kotek signed into law Senate Bill 1515, which eliminated some qualifying reasons for leave under the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA) that overlapped with qualifying reasons for leave under Paid Leave Oregon, effective July 1, 2024.

In 2019, the Oregon Legislative Assembly passed the Paid Family Medical Leave Act, which established a paid family and medical leave insurance (PFMLI) program for Oregon employees. On April 27, 2022, the Oregon Employment Department (OED) filed proposed administrative rules with the Oregon Office of the Secretary of State to

Oregon employers feeling the financial strain of economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are bracing themselves for another impact. On July 1, 2020, Oregon’s minimum wage increase will take effect.

Oregon’s state government, ahead of the January 1, 2019, effective date of the state Equal Pay Act (EPA), is conducting an expansive, behind-the-scenes pay equity analysis of its departments to identify and remedy any potential pay disparities between male and female employees.

As we previously advised,1 on March 2, 2016, Oregon enacted the first geographically-tiered minimum wage hike in the country. This new minimum wage law, which becomes effective on July 1, 2016, imposes different minimum wage rates for employers in the Portland, Oregon metro area and for employers located in the more rural parts of the state.

While the federal minimum wage remains stagnant ($7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009), different states have sought to lead with their own minimum wage rulemaking.

An employer that acquired the assets of a defunct bar and restaurant and continued to operate a restaurant on the same premises was liable for unpaid wages owed to the defunct restaurant’s former employees, the Oregon Supreme Court has ruled. Blachana LLC v. Bureau of Labor and Industries, No. S060789 (Ore. Jan. 16, 2014).