OREGON: Leave for domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking expanded

All employees will be eligible to take leave for domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, if they work for an employer with at least six employees, pursuant to HB 2903, which was recently signed by the governor and goes into effect on January 1, 2014. Previously, in order to qualify for protected leave due to these issues, an employee had to have worked for the employer at least 180 days and worked an average of twenty-five or more hours per week during that time. The new law eliminates the eligibility requirements and extends the domestic violence leave protections to all employees. The new law also requires covered employers to post summaries of the law in a clear and conspicuous place. The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) will have summaries that satisfy this requirement available on its website and Vigilant will notify employers when they’re available.

Tips: If you don’t have a crime victim leave policy that addresses this law, you should consider adding one to your handbook. Review our Model Policy, “Crime Victim Leave Policies for Oregon, Washington and California” (3912), which will be updated by the time the new law takes effect.