May 5, 2022 3:00 a.m.

The Oregon Employment Department’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance program is now “Paid Leave Oregon”.

A release from the Oregon Employment Department said when it launches next year, the program will allow workers to take paid time off for “some of life’s most important moments”. This includes:

*Family leave – to care for a family member with a serious illness or injury, or to bond with a new child after birth, adoption or foster care placement

*Medical leave – during a time when someone has a serious health condition

*Safe leave – for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment and stalking

The release said contributions by employees and employers will begin January 1st of next year with benefits for workers starting September 3rd, 2023.

Paid Leave Oregon has scheduled three public hearings in May on paid leave benefits: https://www.oregon.gov/employ/PFMLI/Documents/Program%20Resources/Batch-3-Rules-Paid-Leave-Partner-Invite.pdf

Written feedback can also be provided by email: OED_RULES@employ.oregon.gov

More information about Paid Leave Oregon is at: https://www.oregon.gov/employ/PFMLI/Pages/default.aspx