Time for family
Paid Leave Oregon was created with families of every kind in mind so you can take care of the many loved ones in your life without worrying about a paycheck.
Paid Leave Oregon makes sure people can have the time they need to take care of a family member.
Family leave is paid time off for any of the following:
- Caring for and bonding with a child in the first year after:
- Birth
- Adoption
- They’re placed in your home through foster care
- To care for a family member with a serious health condition
Who is a family member?
Paid Leave Oregon has an inclusive definition of “family member.” A family member is any of the following:
- Your spouse or domestic partner
- Your child (biological, adopted, stepchild, or foster child), your spouse or domestic partner’s child, or the child’s spouse or domestic partner
- Your parent (biological, adoptive, stepparent, foster parent, or legal guardian), the parent of your spouse or domestic partner, or your parent’s spouse or domestic partner
- Your sibling or stepsibling or their spouse or domestic partner
- Your grandparent or your grandparent’s spouse or domestic partner
- Your grandchild or your grandchild’s spouse or domestic partner
- Any person who you are connected to like a family member
What is a qualifying life event?
If your employer has an equivalent plan instead of participating in the state’s Paid Leave Oregon plan, you must apply separately under the equivalent plan. Ask your employer for instructions on how to do that.
To apply for benefits under the state plan, follow these steps.
Step 1: Have your documents ready
You’ll need at least 1 of the following:
- A copy of the child’s birth certificate
- Hospital admission form
- Copy of court order or letter from placement agency
- Proof of your family member’s serious health condition from a health care provider that includes a brief description of the condition and the dates it started and ended
Step 2: Give notice to your employer
- 30-day notice: If you know you will need to use Paid Leave, you need to let your employer know at least 30 calendar days before starting your leave, unless giving early notice is not possible for you.
- 24-hour emergency notice: In an emergency, you must tell your employer (this does not have to be in writing) that you need to use Paid Leave within 24 hours of starting your leave. Then, give your employer written notice within 3 days of starting your leave.
Step 3: Apply for benefits
When you are ready to apply for benefits, you will use Frances Online. Employees can create an account in Frances Online beginning August 2023.
Frances Online is the quickest and easiest way to apply for Paid Leave. You can answer questions from Paid Leave and check the status of your application or payments. If you can’t access Frances Online, send us a paper application or call us at 833-854-0166. It may take longer for you to receive a response.
At the earliest, you can submit your application 30 days before you start your leave. At the latest, you can submit it 30 days after you start your leave.
Step 4: Update your leave claim
After Paid Leave has approved your application, you can change your claim any time the leave time frame or schedule changes. Learn more about how to update your application.
Have questions? Visit our commonly asked questions about Frances Online.
Create an account nowFrances Online
- You can take up to 12 weeks paid leave in a 52-week period (starting from the day your leave begins). You can take a week or a single day off at a time.
- You may be able to take up to 2 additional weeks (up to 14 total weeks) if you are pregnant, have given birth, or have health needs because of childbirth.
- Paid Leave Oregon pays you every week while you are on Paid Leave. The amount depends on how much you earned the year before. Some employees will get 100% of their wages.
- You can use the benefits calculator for an estimate of how much your weekly benefits may be if you take paid leave.
What happens when I go back to work?
- Your job is protected by law while you're on paid leave if you have worked at least 90 consecutive days for your employer.
- Your employer cannot fire you or threaten you for taking time off if you are eligible for paid leave.
- You have the right to the same job you had when you left if you have worked for your employer for at least 90 consecutive days under the law.
- If your position no longer exists when you return from paid leave and your employer has 25 or more employees, they must give you a similar position. If your employer has less than 25 employees and your position is no longer available, they can give you a different position when you return with similar job duties and the same benefits and pay.
