Law Alert:
Oregon Employers Must Provide Pregnancy Accommodation Notice to All Employees by June 29, 2020

Oregon’s Pregnancy Accommodation Law (effective January 1, 2020) requires employers with six or more employees to make reasonable accommodations for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions (e.g., lactation). Employers are not required to make reasonable accommodations if it would cause an undue hardship. Unlike the ADA and federal Pregnancy Disability Act, Oregon’s law requires reasonable accommodations be made, even if the employee’s limitations are not considered a disability.

Employers are required to post a notice informing employees of their rights and protections under the new law in a conspicuous and accessible location in the workplace. Employers must also provide written notification to:

• Existing employees by no later than June 29, 2020,
• New employees at the time of hire, and
• Within 10 days after an employee inform their employer of their pregnancy.

The Bureau of Labor and Industries recently released a template notice. Employers may use BOLI’s template notice or adopt their own version.

UEA  Attorneys are available to assist members with developing a modified notice and any questions they may have regarding complying with the requirements of this new law. Contact us for more information about these new changes at EmployerHelpline@UnitedEmployers.org or 503.595.2170