Employers must consider a new, more rigorous standard before concluding that a proposed accommodation for a religious belief or practice presents a new hardship, following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Groff v. DeJoy. No...more
7/7/2023
/ Civil Rights Act ,
De Minimus Doctrine ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Groff v DeJoy ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Religious Accommodation ,
SCOTUS ,
Substantial Burden ,
Title VII ,
Undue Hardship ,
USPS
Following a four-week, virtual trial, Alaska Airlines (Alaska) received a complete defense verdict from a King County Superior Court jury on June 1, 2022. The case offers important takeaways for employers on handling...more
Effective September 30, 2021, a new rule issued by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) will require either 1) proof of vaccination or 2) weekly COVID-19 testing for all "Healthcare Providers" and "Healthcare Staff" working in...more
President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) into law on March 11, 2021. ARPA provides $1.9 trillion in federal stimulus, which includes, in addition to subsidies for employer-provided benefits plans, a...more
Update November 13, 2020: This blog has been updated to reflect current guidance about Oregon's mask requirements for employers. In response to COVID-19, Oregon Governor Kate Brown has issued a number of Executive Orders...more
On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) published revisions to its temporary regulations implementing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). ...more
Please join us for our virtual event addressing the impact of upcoming school closures on workplaces and employees. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, employers must plan for the long-term implications of these closures. Our...more
In response to COVID-19, Oregon Governor Kate Brown has issued a number of Executive Orders mandating mask-wearing, and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has published its own extensive industry-specific guidance as well....more
On July 14, 2020, the Oregon legislature approved more than $200 million of CARES Act funds to provide economic support "to assist vulnerable Oregonians whose lives have been turned upside down" in recent months. The money...more
On June 26, 2020, United States Department of Labor (USDOL) Wage and Hour Administrator Cheryl Stanton issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2020-4 (FAB 2020-4) regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and...more
This week marks several important deadlines for Oregon employers, including requirements to distribute a Notice of Rights to all employees explaining pregnancy accommodations; increases to minimum wage rates; and changes to...more
In the last two weeks, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has provided clarification and guidance for Borrowers as they prepare to seek forgiveness for their Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans obtained under the...more
Please join our Oregon attorneys as we help our clients prepare for Oregon's reopening. This nuts and bolts webinar will address the questions we are hearing as employers prepare to ramp back up....more
5/11/2020
/ Continuing Legal Education ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Governor Brown ,
Health and Safety ,
Medical Monitoring ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Rehiring Issues ,
Social Distancing ,
State and Local Government ,
Webinars ,
Workplace Safety
The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) recently issued further clarification around several technical aspects of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)....more
As we have discussed in prior advisories, employers are entitled to a tax credit to cover 100 percent of the expense of providing paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Both the FFCRA...more
On April 1, 2020, contemporaneous with the effective date of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or the Act), the Department of Labor (USDOL) published temporary regulations concerning interpretation and...more
On March 28, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) updated its guidance concerning the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) with answers to additional frequently asked questions. This newest guidance provides details...more
In our prior blog posts concerning the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), we summarized the new federal legislation extending leave benefits to employees affected by the spread of COVID-19, and stated that...more
On March 23, 2020, Governor Brown issued Executive Order 20-12, joining nearly a dozen other governors across the country by essentially requiring Oregon state residents to stay home except for essential travel, such as to...more
One of the most highly anticipated new Oregon laws for employers was signed into law on June 11, 2019, and will go into effect in the fall of 2019. It brings sweeping changes for all companies with Oregon employees. ...more
Oregon’s new minimum wage law which phases in wage increases over a six-year period starts, July 1, 2016. The minimum wage for medium and high density counties – listed below – rises to $9.75. The minimum wage for low...more
Oregon is the first state in the nation to enact a statewide tiered minimum wage. Oregon’s new minimum wage law will phase in wage increases over a six-year period starting July 1, 2016. Eventually, the law will require...more