The primary employment-related bills passed in Oregon’s 2022 legislative session relate to pay equity and the Workplace Fairness Act. Oregon employers in particular sectors may also want to be aware of recently passed and pending legislation that addresses overtime eligibility for agricultural workers, notice of mandatory overtime shifts for manufacturing employees, and workers’ compensation retroactive benefits and overpayments.
In Oregon, agricultural workers have historically been exempt from overtime. House Bill (HB) 4002 changes that. If signed by Governor Kate Brown, beginning in 2023, farmers and ranchers will be required to pay agricultural workers overtime pay at one and one-half times their regular rate. To help with the transition, the overtime pay requirements will occur in phases. In 2023 and 2024, employers will be required to pay overtime to workers who work in excess of fifty-five hours in one workweek; in excess of forty-eight hours in 2025 and 2026; and in excess of forty hours beginning in 2027. Employers that are subject to these new requirements may be eligible for refundable tax credits to assist with the increased cost. The tax credit will be a percentage of the additional amount paid in overtime to workers during the year, but will decrease over the course of the transition phase.
Senate Bill (SB) 1513, which Governor Brown...
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