As many of you know, in 2019 the Oregon Legislature passed (and Governor Brown signed) HB 2005, which creates a Paid Family and Medical Leave program for Oregon employees. Our original blog posts about the new law are here and here.

The Oregon Employment Department has launched listening sessions for employers and employees across Oregon to collect input on the implementation of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program. As a reminder, the rulemaking committees have been meeting all year and are expected to continue to meet into 2021. Premiums will start being collected for the program January 1, 2022 with employees accessing the new paid benefit January 1, 2023.

The listening sessions will be held virtually via Zoom. Each town hall will address a particular aspect of the program, like benefits or small employers. Town hall participants are invited to identify issues, offer ideas, raise concerns, or make suggestions relating to the program’s development and the administrative rules needed to implement the program.

Please let us know if you have questions about the town hall sessions or how to make your voice heard.  We strongly encourage you to participate in at least one of the sessions to provide the Oregon Employment Department with employer perspectives about how the new law should function.

View additional information and link to register here or click on one below.

• Oct. 13 – Contributions 2:00PM – 3:00PM  REGISTER HERE 

  This session will focus on employer and employee contribution rates, employer reporting requirements, remittance of payments, and collection issues.​

• Oct. 27 – Equivalent Plans 2:00PM – 3:00PM  REGISTER HERE 

  This session will focus on submission and review of equivalent plans offered by employers; renewal, withdrawal, and termination of employer plans; and resolution of disputes between employers and employees concerning equivalent plans.

• Nov. 9 – Benefits 6:30PM – 7:30PM  REGISTER HERE 

  This session will focus on program eligibility, application for benefits, qualifying leave purposes for benefits, delivery of benefits, and requirements for employees to provide notice to employers prior to taking paid leave.​

• Nov. 17 – Small Employers 2:00PM – 3:00PM  REGISTER HERE 

  This session will focus on small employers; assistance grants to help with the cost of hiring temporary replacement workers or other related costs; and job protection provisions, including continuation of health benefits and restoration to equivalent or similar positions.

• Dec. 8 – Self Employed/Independent Contractors 6:30PM – 7:30PM  REGISTER HERE 

  This session will focus on self-employed individuals and independent contractors who elect to participate in the program, including contribution and benefit amounts and how to elect coverage.​