Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management has been fielding one crisis after another in recent weeks. Given that the Office’s stated role is to help Oregon’s state and local leaders prepare for and respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, it is ironic that the messes currently facing the department are all internal, manmade, personnel concerns…. Read More
Posts Categorized In: Portland
Flier Tells Oregon Workers to Say "Hasta La Vista" To Jobs if They Unionize
Controversies about unionization or employment rights rarely bring out the best in people. When disagreements arise about whether or not workers should unionize, almost everyone involved in the situation is likely to have a strong view about the right course of action, and can be quite aggressive in his or her quest to convince others…. Read More
Oregon House Passes New Protections For Domestic Workers
Many people who are financially well off think nothing of hiring housekeepers and nannies to help make their day-to-day lives run more smoothly. In the best scenarios, these domestic employees become part of the family and are treated with a great deal of love and respect. However, the picture is not always so rosy; we… Read More
City Employee Sues Portland For Failing to Provide a Fragrance-Free Workplace
One of the most important provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is that employers cannot discriminate against qualified employees who happen to have disabilities. One of the main ways of preventing discrimination is requiring employers to make “reasonable accommodations” for certain mental or physical limitations that employees face. Installing ramps for… Read More
Oregon's New Hairstyling Law Breaks Down Barriers to Employment
It is no exaggeration to say that race has played a fairly prominent role in the evolution of employment rights in American history. Whether it was the right of African-Americans to be paid for their labor at all, as opposed to being considered the property of other human beings, or the right of all people… Read More
Oregon Restaurant Industry Fights Limits on Tip Sharing
As anyone who has worked in a restaurant knows, tips can be a huge source of stress among the staff. Since many servers are not paid a very generous base rate, they rely on tips as their primary source of income; as such, worries and frustrations surrounding poor tippers run rampant. In addition to these… Read More
Oregon Court Denies Fire Chief's Workers' Compensation Claim
In 2007, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office informed Alan Hull, then the fire chief at the Estacada Rural Fire District, that one of his employees had embezzled $1.9 million from the district. The Sheriff’s Office then asked Mr. Hull to go undercover and gather evidence of this employee’s wrongdoing, which Mr. Hull agreed to do…. Read More
Oregon Legislators Say You Don't Have to Be Friends with Your Employer
A few weeks ago, we informed you that the Oregon House of Representatives was considering a bill that would prevent employers from requiring their employees or potential employees to provide access to their social media accounts. As KATU.com recently reported, the Oregon Senate passed House Bill 2654B with a large margin of support (28 to… Read More
Oregon Considers Making Coaches Pay NCAA Penalties
Sports coaches at universities across the United States provoke strong reactions among fans of collegiate athletics. Especially for coaches of the top collegiate teams, there are few lukewarm feelings, and the coaches are often at the center of controversy for their choices both on and off the field or court. Joe Paterno and Jerry Sandusky… Read More
Oregon Legislature Works to Protect Unpaid Interns From Harassment and Discrimination
It can often seem that business interests and employment rights concerns are working at cross-purposes to each other. Advocates from both groups can often present almost knee-jerk opposition to any proposal from the other side. Nevertheless, the two sides manage every so often to negotiate their way into a compromise that benefits all parties. Such… Read More