Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza cases are surging across the United States while COVID-19 continues to spread. Faced with hospital beds filling up and experts warning that this could be one of the most severe...more
Changes to Oregon employment laws taking effect next year will be keeping human resources professionals very busy this holiday season and into the new year in the Pacific Northwest. Extended State of Public Health...more
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,...more
Effective today, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OR-OSHA”) repealed the COVID-19 workplace safety rules that obligated most employers to require employees and visitors to wear face coverings and...more
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. The amendments to the act took...more
Well, we just issued an update yesterday telling you that despite the CDC and Governor Brown saying no masks are required in public places for vaccinated people, Oregon OSHA still requires you to have them at work. Not so...more
By now, most of you are aware of the guidance issued by the CDC, which has rescinded the mask requirement for fully vaccinated individuals in public settings, both outdoors and indoors, with limited exceptions. You are also...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
With the onset of colder weather, the return of students to colleges, and pandemic fatigue, the news is that the next six to twelve weeks could be the worst yet for the pandemic. The number of positive test results is rapidly...more
On September 25, 2020, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (“Oregon OSHA”) issued its draft COVID-19 Temporary Standard. Oregon OSHA intends to adopt this Temporary Standard later this week, with an anticipated effective...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
Starting July 1, 2020, all Oregonians over age 12 are required to wear a face covering in public indoor spaces and certain businesses to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state. According to Governor Kate Brown, the state’s...more
On May 7, 2020, Oregon Governor Kate Brown outlined a three-phase approach to reopening Oregon's businesses beginning May 15, 2020. The phased approach was designed to gradually lift the "Stay Home, Save Lives" Executive...more
This eighth edition of Unprecedented, our weekly update on COVID-19-related litigation, follows what we hope was a restful and meaningful Memorial Day weekend. For the third week in a row, shutdown challenges, workers'...more
With Governors Brown and Inslee announcing their respective phased approaches to reopening the Oregon and Washington economies, employers need to start planning for how they will resume operations in a safe and...more
Governor Brown recently announced that Oregon’s businesses will be reopening in three phases. The first phase began on May 15 for counties that have met certain public health prerequisites, including a declining prevalence of...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
On May 7, 2020, Governor Brown and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released a series of guidelines and resources concerning the prerequisites to “Reopen Oregon.” Among the guidelines, and of immediate interest to many...more
In the wake of an onslaught of employee complaints about social distancing in the workplace, the Oregon Occupational Health and Safety Administration (“OR-OSHA”) announced that it would begin workplace inspections in order to...more
Governor Brown announced earlier this week that she is banning seated dining at the state’s bars and restaurants and prohibiting gatherings of more than 25 people. The March 16 executive order 20-07 includes exemptions for...more
The September 30, 2018 deadline has come and gone for Governor Jerry Brown to evaluate the bills passed by the California legislature this year. In his last hurrah, Governor Brown has signed into law a jaw-dropping number of...more
February 16 was the deadline to introduce new bills in the California Legislature. By that date, nearly 2,200 bills were introduced. While that may seem like a staggering amount of legislative proposals (especially for a...more
When the Legislature reconvenes from its summer recess on August 21, it will have only a few short weeks to finish work on legislation for this year. All bills must be passed and sent to Governor Brown by September 15, who...more
In keeping with California’s reputation of being an employee-friendly state, Governor Brown has enacted a number of laws, most of which go into effect on January 1, 2017 (unless specified otherwise below), that place...more