Paid Leave Oregon, a new program that will allow eligible Oregonians up to 12 weeks of paid time off, starts this month. The program is paid for by both employees and employers and allows employees to choose when and how to take time off for family, medical or safe leave; pays employees a percentage of their wages while they’re on leave; and protects an employee’s job and role if they’ve worked for the same employer for at least 90 consecutive days.
The program ensures that individuals, employers and families of every kind have the time and support they need to care for themselves and their loved ones when they need it the most. The benefits can be used for “qualifying life events,” such as caring for and bonding with a child in their first year (including births, adoptions and foster care placement); a family member with a serious health condition; the employee has a serious health condition; and if the employee or their child(ren) are survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment or stalking.
Paid Leave Oregon defines “a serious health condition” as an illness, injury or physical or mental condition that requires inpatient care; poses an imminent danger of death or possibility of death in the near future; requires constant or continuing care; involves a period of incapacity; involves multiple treatments; or involves a period of disability due to pregnancy.
Anyone is eligible for benefits through their employer if they made at least $1,000 the year before they apply for the Paid Leave Oregon benefits. This includes people who work full time, part-time and at more than one job or employer. Self-employed individuals and independent contractors are not automatically covered but can choose coverage. Similarly, tribal governments are not automatically covered (or required to participate), but may also choose coverage. Federal government employees are not eligible for Paid Leave Oregon benefits.
September 3 is the first day that eligible employees can start taking paid leave. A listing of documents needed for each type of leave, as well as a benefits calculator, are available online. For example, a minimum wage employee who makes $28,080 annually ($540 weekly), will receive $540 for one week of Paid Leave benefits. A median income employee earning $67,058 annually ($1,289.50 weekly) would receive a $1,057.44 weekly benefit. The program encourages eligible individuals to use the Frances Online portal to apply for Paid Leave Oregon benefits as it is the quickest and easiest option.
The Frances Online portal, a complete definition of a serious health condition, how contractors and self-employed individuals can choose coverage and more details are available at paidleave.oregon.gov.