Paid Leave Oregon Bulletin

August Spotlight: Equivalent Plans in detail

An equivalent plan provides paid leave benefits that are equal to or greater than those provided by Paid Leave Oregon. Employers with approved equivalent plans, and employees working for an equivalent-plan employer, do not have to pay contributions to Paid Leave Oregon. If you already offer paid leave to your employees or are thinking about doing so, you can apply to offer an equivalent plan.

In our July bulletin, we shared some basic details about equivalent plans. In this edition, we dive into the details of equivalent plans. Don’t miss our equivalent plan web page, and our new videos on equivalent plans in English and Spanish. We also have a new handy checklist for employers to see if your current company paid leave plan would qualify.

Here are three detailed questions about equivalent plans:

When can I apply for an equivalent plan?
Answer: Employers can apply for an equivalent plan starting Sept. 6, 2022, through Frances Online. 
The non-refundable fees for equivalent plans are $250.

Once I have an equivalent plan approved by Paid Leave Oregon, will I have to reapply?
Answer: Employers must reapply for approval of their plans annually for the first three years. After three years, employers will no longer have to re-apply for approval, and their equivalent plans will remain in place until withdrawn or ended.

What happens if my application for an equivalent plan is denied?
Answer: If the application is denied, the employer remains covered by the state Paid Leave program, and the employer and its employees must pay contributions as required. To appeal a denial, attach a copy of the determination and submit a request in writing to the Oregon Employment Department.

• Submit electronically using Frances Online at frances.oregon.gov (starting Sept. 6)
• Call 833-854-0166
• Mail your request to:

Oregon Employment Department
Attn: Paid Leave Hearings
875 Union St NE 
Salem, OR 97311

The request must state that you are specifically asking for a hearing, that the determination is unjust or incorrect, and the reasons why.

Do you have questions about equivalent plans? 
Join Paid Leave Oregon for one of our question and answer sessions, “Equivalent Plans Explained,” from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Tuesday, from Aug. 16, 2022, through Sept. 13, 2022. All sessions are in English with ASL and Spanish interpretation provided.

Please register in advance:
https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscuisrz8iHE-fZRqwHnJh1qAqsXZp9Fs

Follow-up from the Budget Engagement Sessions
Thank you to those who participated in one of the Oregon Employment Department’s Budget Engagement Sessions focused on the new Paid Leave Oregon program. 

In all, we held 14 Budget Engagement Sessions throughout April and May 2022. During each session, we gave an overview of Paid Leave Oregon and provided a space where we could listen and incorporate community feedback to build a stronger, more-inclusive program.

About 1,200 attendees joined our sessions. We are grateful for the community members, businesses, employees and other organizations that shared their time and experiences with us. 

During the sessions, we told you we would follow up with how we would use the information you gave us. We took your feedback and used it to build the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) found on the employers and employees sections of our new website, paidleave.oregon.gov. FAQ documents from the sessions are on the Resources web page.

Join us for virtual Community Conversations!
Through the end of August 2022, Paid Leave Oregon is hosting weekly community conversations over Zoom where you can learn more about the Paid Leave Oregon program. Sign-up links are below: 

• Tuesdays, 3-4 p.m., en Español (Zoom meeting held in Spanish with English and sign language interpretation provided)  
• Thursdays, 3-4 p.m., in English (Zoom meeting with ASL and Spanish interpretation provided)
• Fridays, 10-11 a.m., in English (Zoom meeting with ASL and Spanish interpretation provided) 

If you need an accommodation, including language translation, please email paidleave@oregon.gov no later than three business days before the session you plan to attend with your accommodation request. 

Opportunities to join Paid Leave Oregon and OED 
Are you passionate about providing benefits to others and ensuring businesses, small employers, and employees are treated fairly? Consider joining the Paid Leave Oregon team at the Oregon Employment Department. Job openings are posted under Employment Department in Workday.

Contact us 
Do you have a question about Paid Leave? Please fill out our Contact Paid Leave form, send us an email, or leave us a voicemail, and we will be happy answer any questions that you have.

Form: Contact Paid Leave
Email: paidleave@oregon.gov
Call: 833-854-0166 (toll-free)