OREANDA-NEWS.  On January 1, 2016, Oregon Senate Bill 454, which would require employers with 10 or more employees to allow those workers to accrue up to 40 hours of paid sick leave annually, takes effect.  The law requires employers to provide written notice to all employees of their rights under the new paid sick leave law.

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries published its final rules and model notice on December 9th.  This notice must be provided to all current employees by no later than the end of the employer’s first pay period after January 1, 2016. For employees hired after January 1, 2016, this notice must be provided by the end of the new employee’s first pay period.  Employers are to distribute the requirements in the language they typically use to communicate with employees.

The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may assess a civil penalty for any willful violations of the new law including failure to provide written notice of the sick time requirements to any employee.  The civil penalties for any one violation could be up to \\$1,000 per violation.  The civil penalties set will be in addition to any other penalty assessed or imposed by law or rule.

Oregon is the fourth state to enact mandated paid sick leave in some form, joining California, Connecticut and Massachusetts.  Employers should remain vigilant in their monitoring of state compliance requirements to ensure they are aware of and in compliance with all applicable state laws and regulations.

Bottom Line

Equifax Workforce Solutions can help simplify compliance with required state new hire notifications through the State Compliance Solution on Compliance Center, a streamlined, configurable technology portal that combines market-leading, innovative onboarding compliance solutions to help employers manage legislative mandates, increase efficiency and reduce risk..

Electronic distribution and acknowledgement of employee notifications is a best practice to provide a clear audit trail of compliance.  Equifax works diligently to help support employers in managing compliance with new and existing state and federal new hire notification requirements including tracking of new and updated forms and legislation.  Contact us to let us help you manage the new hire and all employee notifications for the new Oregon sick leave law as well as other required state new hire notifications.