The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) will hold three public forums on possible regulatory changes to the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA) to better align it with the recently revised federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). BOLI is also seeking public comments through its regular comment process. After receiving and reviewing the
Oregon BOLI: No Changes to OFLA Regulations (yet…)
As previously reported here at the Stoel Rives World of Employment, new federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regulations went into effect on January 16, 2009. Oregon has its own analog to FMLA, the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA), with its own regulations. FMLA applies to employers with 50 or more employees, while
Oregon Issues New Rest Break Regulations
.jpg)
The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) issued a revised regulation earlier this week on employees’ meal breaks which will be of interest to many smaller employers.
The revised regulation, which is effective as of January 12, 2009, retains the basic requirement that employees normally be provided with a 30-minute, unpaid meal period in which
Starbucks Wins Round in Class Action over Applications’ Marijuana Questions
Earlier this month, Starbucks scored an important procedural victory from the California Court of Appeals, which ruled that a class of employees lacked standing to sue over questions the coffee chain asked on its employment applications about prior marijuana convictions. Click here to read the opinion in Starbucks v. Superior Court.
Despite the apparent
Minnesota Wal-Mart Employees Get $54 Million Christmas Present
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced yesterday that it will pay $54.25 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over allegations that Wal-Mart made its employees work during break time and off the clock after regular working hours. The class consists of approximately 100,000 current and former hourly employees who worked at Minnesota Wal-Marts and Sam’s Clubs between September 11, 1998
Washington’s Minimum Wage To Rise to $8.55 January 1, 2009
Washington employers get ready to give your minimum-wage employees a raise: effective January 1, 2009, Washington’s minimum wage will increase to $8.55 per hour, allowing Washington to maintain the highest minimum wage in the country. For more information, click here to read the Department of Labor and Industries’ Press Release. Washington’s current minimum wage
Oregon’s New Smokefree Workplace Law Takes Effect January 1, 2009
Since 2002, the Oregon Smokefree Workplace Law has made most workplaces smokefree. Effective January 1, 2009, a new law will expand the number of indoor workplaces that are required to be smokefree, and prohibit smoking within 10 feet of entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes of workplaces and public places.
Workplaces and public places
Utah: Employee Commuting May Be Within “Course and Scope” of Employment
Last week the Utah Supreme Court ruled that an employee’s commute may in some cases be within the course and scope of his or her employment, such that an employer may be held liable for the employee’s negligence during the commute.
In Newman v. White Water Whirlpool, the defendant employed Bradley Sundquist as an installer
“Blonde Jokes” Support Workplace Emotional Distress Claim
Usually when I get an employment lawsuit alleging "negligent infliction of emotional distress," I chuckle to myself and immediately begin drafting a motion to dismiss. However, a recent case out of the Washington Court of Appeals may indicate that NIED claims are not totally frivolous!
In Strong v. Wright, the plaintiff sued her former supervisor
California Overtime Laws Cover Nonresidents Who Work in California
Do California wage and hour laws – including their daily and weekly overtime provisions – apply to non-residents who occasionally perform work in California? Yes, according to a decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month. Click here to read the court’s decision in Sullivan v. Oracle Corp.
In Sullivan