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Mar 02 2023
Leave LawsOregon

OREGON: OFLA eligibility returns to normal as health emergency ends

Oregon’s declared public health emergency due to RSV is set to expire at 12:01 a.m. on March 6, 2023, so eligibility for leave under the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA) will return to normal on that date. As we previously reported, Governor Kate Brown’s public health emergency declaration temporarily shrank the minimum length of employment…

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Feb 16 2023
DisabilityLeave Laws

DOL addresses indefinite intermittent FMLA leave and remote work

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently addressed two important issues under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), approving indefinite intermittent leave due to a serious health condition and clarifying the work location of remote workers for FMLA purposes. Indefinite intermittent leave: The DOL issued an opinion letter stating that the FMLA entitles…

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Dec 15 2022
Leave LawsWashington

WASHINGTON Q&A: Consider requiring WPFML documentation

Question: We have an employee on medical leave who applied for WPFML benefits, but the notice we received from ESD only provides a broad date range for the approved leave with no other information. How are we supposed to keep track of this? Answer: Consider requiring the employee to provide you with documentation of their…

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Nov 17 2022
Leave LawsWage and HourWashington

WASHINGTON: PFML rates to rise in 2023

As of January 1, 2023, the premiums will increase for Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. The premium rate will be 0.8 percent (up from 0.6 percent) of each employee’s gross wages (not including tips), up to a maximum of $160,200 (the 2023 Social Security cap). The split between employers and employees for…

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Nov 17 2022
Leave LawsQ&A

Q&A: Occasional exceptions to call-in policy may be needed

Question: We have an employee who is using intermittent family leave, but on a number of occasions failed to call in 30 minutes prior to shift, which is required by our call-in policy. We have told the employee that if they fail to comply with the policy again, they will be terminated. Are there any…

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Nov 03 2022
Leave LawsOregonQ&A

Q&A: Assess how to report PFML wages for multistate employees

Question: Our company is located in Oregon, and we have an employee who works in person two days a week at our facility in Portland. The employee teleworks the rest of the week from their residence in Vancouver, Washington. Should we report their wages to the paid family and medical leave (PFML) program in Oregon…

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Nov 03 2022
COVID-19DisabilityLeave Laws

WASHINGTON: Public health emergency ends; some duties remain

Governor Jay Inslee ended the COVID-19 public health emergency for the state of Washington on October 31, 2022, but employers still have some obligations under state law. As we previously reported, the continuing requirements for COVID-19 (coronavirus) stem from Washington’s Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA) and from an ongoing obligation to provide a workplace…

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Sep 01 2022
Leave Laws

Q&A: Consider history before denying leave due to improper request

Question: This morning an employee contacted his supervisor through Facebook to report that he can’t come to work for at least a week because he needs surgery. Our Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policy clearly states that employees must follow the call-in policy and complete a leave request form. Can we deny leave because…

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May 19 2022
DisabilityLeave Laws

ADA claims don’t require long-term limitations

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) doesn’t require an employee to have long-term medical issues in order to establish a disability. The employee in this case was a newly hired HR generalist who was approved for an eight-week leave of absence following a bone…

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May 05 2022
HiringLeave LawsTermination & Resignation

Q&A: Temporary protected status may extend work authorization

Question: Last year during the I-9 process, a new hire showed me a Form I-766 (Employment Authorization Document) as proof of eligibility to work. The card is expiring soon and I’ve asked for updated documentation to reverify their authorization to work, but they say they don’t have any new documents. Will I have to terminate…

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Apr 21 2022
Leave LawsOregon

OREGON: Paid sick time expanded in advance of summer heat

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) has made a permanent rule that expands the reasons for Oregon paid sick leave to include time off related to emergency evacuation orders as well as unhealthy air quality or high outdoor temperatures. The permanent rule is identical to the temporary rule we reported on last summer….

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Apr 07 2022
Leave LawsWashington

WASHINGTON: New law makes changes to PFML

The Washington legislature passed a handful of changes to the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program, which were signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee on March 30, 2022 (SSSB 5649). These key changes are effective June 9, 2022: Family leave may now be used for bereavement for seven calendar days after the death…

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