Comment Period for Oregon Sick Time Rules Winding Down

The rulemaking will implement a law passed during Oregon's 2015 legislative session that requires employers to provide up to 40 hours of paid sick time or unpaid but protected sick time per year, depending on the employer's size and location.

Sept. 26 is the deadline for Oregon employers and workers to comment on a Bureau of Labor and Industries proposed rulemaking that will clarify sick time rules, including the regular rate of pay for piece rate workers, the definition of which employees are covered, and joint employer liability. BOLI announced Aug. 31 that it would accept comments starting Sept. 1.

The rulemaking will implement a law passed during Oregon's 2015 legislative session that requires employers to provide up to 40 hours of paid sick time or unpaid but protected sick time per year, depending on the employer's size and location.

The BOLI committee that drafted the proposed rules included members of the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Association of Nurseries, Association of General Contractors, Association of Oregon Industries, United Food and Commercial Workers, Service Employees International Union, Oregon Education Association, and the Oregon School Boards Association, according to BOLI.

Comments may be submitted to Paloma Sparks, legislative director, at [email protected] or to Marcia Ohlemiller, rules coordinator, at [email protected]

"Oregon's sick time law supports hundreds of thousands of workers who previously didn't have access to any paid time off when they're ill or caring for a sick child or spouse," said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. "We appreciate the work of this diverse advisory committee and look forward to reviewing additional public comments before finalizing rules."