Follow Charisse Jones on Twitter @charissejones Contributing: Jazmin Goodwin. You would be eligible for partial unemployment insurance. A furlough keeps employees technically on an employer’s “books” during a work stoppage. Oregon Stat. Exempt employees that do not perform any work in a week are not required to be paid for that week. Employees working significantly reduced work schedules will also likely be entitled to benefits, which are calculated based on formulas with the applicable state agency. Non-exempt workers must have clearly established systems for tracking hours and required breaks. It would be up to your company to spell out whether premium payments missed while you were not receiving a check would be deducted once you return to work, or if you would have to make that payment before you take off. Yes. An employer will suspend the work of most or all employees and send them home without pay. Predictive Scheduling. Oregon furloughs workers, slow bounce back expected Leaders to balance limited revenues, increase needs ... Pennsylvania laid off or temporarily stopped paying 16,500 state employees… "Every one of the 50 states has an online application system,’’ says Michele Evermore, senior researcher and policy analyst for the National Employment Law Project. In Oregon, go to www.oregon.gov/employ/unemployment. Diversity & Inclusion Training and Consulting, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Littler Restructuring Assessment Solution, Workplace Safety and Health (OSHA & MSHA), Leaves of Absence and Disability Accommodation, New Oregon Law Imposes Scheduling and Working Hours Obligations on Employers, Furloughs and Other Temporary Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disruptions, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Business Preparedness. What about health insurance? OPSL can either be “accrued” at a rate of 30:1 (one hour of leave per 30 hours worked) or “front loaded” at the beginning of the year or a work anniversary. An employer may be limited in its furlough or layoff decisions by the terms of an employment contract. Employers can put someone on furlough, as long as they were employed on or before 30 October 2020. My workplace shut down before I could start my new job, or I was laid off soon after I started. Now the job search requirement is generally being waived. I'm currently getting unemployment. The issue can be complicated, but generally federal law (the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, known as WARN) requires that most employers with over 100 workers provide 60 days advance notice in the event of mass layoffs where workers are not expected to return to work within six months. If the paycheck is late, a court can order the employer to pay wages for up to 30 days at the employee’s usual daily rate, starting from the day they leave the company until the final paycheck is paid. It is up to the employer to permit the carry-over of annual unused vacation time and determine how many days employees can carry over. Employees approve deductions for each pay period, and "because there’s not a paycheck, there wouldn't be a contribution,'' says Amber Clayton, knowledge center director for the Society for Human Resource Management. Through these various steps, all those who are out of work will be able to get assistance for up to 39 weeks. Oregon law says that if a final paycheck hasn’t been paid properly, an employer may also have to pay a “penalty wage” to the employee. The federal government has designated $1 billion to go toward beefing up staff to process claims, and many states are asking employers to let them know up front when they have laid off employees, speeding up the process. ... and many states are asking employers to let them know up front when they have laid off employees… Under the WARN Act, employment loss encompasses both a temporary layoff that exceeds six months, as well as a reduction of hours by 50 percent for a period of six months or more. An employer can substitute or reduce an exempt employee's accrued leave (or run a negative leave balance) for the time an employee is absent from work, even if it is less than a full day and even if the absence is directed by the employer because of lack of work, without affecting the salary basis payment, provided that the employee still receives payment equal to the employee's predetermined salary in any … You can reapply and you should be able to receive the additional 13 weeks of payments provided by the federal government and the $600 in additional weekly pay. If you work in one state and live in another, where do you put in your claim? Alternately, they can permit employees with a break in service that is at least 31 days with the option to revoke their previous election and make a new one on return to active status. WARN-like Notice. Therefore, employers should implement employee furloughs only if they plan to recall the employee on furlough within one year. Yes. Will the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act from the government grant more access to benefits, or make it more difficult? On February 15, 2019, the President signed a spending package to fund the federal government. More than 15 million Americans were furloughed in May, according to the latest jobs report. The company might also help cover your payment. But furloughs don't bring those costs and could help companies get back up to speed quickly when they can bring workers back online. Oregon Paid Sick Leave (OPSL). Yes. Furloughed workers remain on the payroll, but must take some time off without pay. Will I still be covered while on furlough? I gave my two week notice. The extra $600 weekly benefit, however, will stop at the end of July. Previously some states made people wait a week before applying for benefits, but the federal relief bill encourages states to waive that waiting period, and many states have done so because of the pandemic. This can lead to the employer owing large amounts in unpaid overtime, if the employee regularly works more than 40 hours per week. You can be furloughed whether you are on a full-time, part-time, agency, flexible or zero-hour contract, but you must have been on your employer's payroll before the extension was announced. But under the federal relief bill, everyone will get an additional $600 a week until July 31. If an employer’s plans change and a temporary furlough extends beyond six months or becomes a permanent layoff, then the WARN Act’s notice obligations can be triggered. Here are answers to those questions and more: What is unemployment insurance and how do I get it? You can get federal aid, even if your state doesn't provide it. by the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group. All employers are encouraged to continue re-examining their policies as COVID-19 issues continue to develop. It's up to your state, but yes, you could receive unemployment benefits for each of those scenarios. "As long as your employer tells you that you can’t come to work and they’re not going to pay you ... (you're) unemployed for the purposes of collecting unemployment,’’ Evermore says. To help struggling Americans, Congress passed a $2.2 trillion federal relief package two weeks ago, including a big boost to unemployment insurance benefits that allow more people to qualify and offers more money for a longer period of time. Remote Work. Get unemployment benefit resources in Oregon at https://govstatus.egov.com/ORUnemployment_COVID19. Rather, it will focus on issues specific to Oregon employers. Independent contractors, freelancers and gig workers will be able to get benefits through a new pandemic assistance program established by the CARES Act. An employee furlough is a mandatory suspension from work without pay. Inadequate staffing and antiquated computer systems may also slow down the acceptance of claims. The benefit has also been enhanced by the CARES Act passed by the federal government last week. OFLA would be triggered for COVID-19 if the employee is personally ill or caring for a family member who is ill. Employers should be cautious about the wage implications of reduced work arrangements. Employers Must Not Retaliate Against Employees Who Need To Quarantine 12/22/2020; Oregon OSHA launches free online course addressing COVID-19 safety training 12/10/2020; Oregon OSHA lanza un curso gratuito en línea acerca de seguridad en el trabajo en cuanto a COVID-19 12/10/2020 OPSL may be donated between employees, or donated by healthy employees to a general “bank” of leave to benefit other high risk, or unhealthy employees. This is a mandatory suspension from work that can last briefly or as long as the employer desires. Is there a waiting period before you can apply for or receive benefits? All recipients will receive the extra $600 a week. Depending on how long the furlough lasts, employers may need to consider how a furlough in 2020 may affect the determination of full-time employee status for health coverage in the 2021 plan year. If an employee is symptomatic, there should not be a penalty for sending them home without pay under this law. University of Oregon President Michael H. Schill recently announced that 282 employees will be furloughed in order to address “the immediate net revenue loss” during what are “far from normal times,” according to his statement posted to the university’s website. A: Yes. But such coverage can be very expensive. Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. Our extensive Littler guidance is available here, and those materials broadly address topics such as preventative measures, what to do if an employee tests positive, and general considerations for furloughs and wage and hour law. To apply, you can file online. Can I get more assistance? There are many resources available on the numerous national (and international) issues to consider in this crisis. • The Work Share plan can last no more than 1 year (although a second plan may be filed right after an existing plan expires). You can put the employee on furlough as long as they were employed by you on or before 30 October 2020. Given the continued spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its implications, employers are confronting difficult questions regarding how to handle safety and health rules, travel restrictions, privacy of employees’ health information, compensation, and other employment and labor issues. Oregon Employer Liability. If I'm being furloughed versus laid off, can I file for unemployment? For example, an employer can tell an employee that no work is available and that the employee should stay home on unpaid leave for the next month. Under the OPSL law, employers with six or more employees in Portland, or 10 or more employees in the rest of the state, are required to provide employees with a minimum of 40 hours paid sick leave per year, which may be used after the employee’s 90th day of work. If you receive those benefits, next year you should get a 1099G form to report that income. The surge in jobless claims is being fueled by the growing number of companies, including Marriott, Macy's and GE, that have announced layoffs or furloughs as they try to weather the economic storm caused by the pandemic. The required reduction can be severe. The maximum weekly benefit varies by state. Two-thirds of them work for funded agencies not directly affected by the shutdown such as U.S. There is no specific Oregon law requiring notice to employees of a mass layoff, although an employer may need to notify the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development agency of a layoff that otherwise qualifies for federal WARN. In fact, the maximum amount of time that a company should furlough an employee is one year. But you can increase your contribution if you want to make up for the time you missed. Yes. Employers will continue to pay furloughed staff 80% of their usual wages up to £2,500 per month – or more if that's been agreed with the employee or worker. There also won't automatically be catch-up deductions when you return to work. In such a situation, it is common element of a furlough that the employee can remain on their employer’s group benefits (i.e., health insurance). OFLA would be triggered for COVID-19 if the employee is personally ill or caring for a family member who is ill.  An employer should provide an employee invoking OFLA with proper election forms and potentially could be exhausting available FMLA leave at the same time, if the employee is eligible. For example, exempt employees (salaried management, professionals, and executives) are entitled to the same pay for working a partial week as they would be for working a full week. Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA). In Oregon, among other things, misconduct means an intentional violation of the employer’s rules, the failure to conform to standards which an employer can reasonably expect from an employee, or careless behavior that is so frequent or severe that it shows a disregard for the employer’s interests. In case of dispute over wages between an employer and employee, the employer must timely pay all wages conceded by the employer to be due, leaving the employee all remedies the employee might otherwise have or be entitled to as to any balance the employee might claim. Normally those receiving benefits would have to check in with their state agency every week to let administrators know they remain out of work as well as what job searches they've done. For instance, if you contribute 3% of your pay per check to your 401(k) and are furloughed for two weeks, your first check back will be minus 3%. The WARN Act’s requirements generally do not apply to furloughs if employers communicate to employees that the furlough is temporary and that employees will return to their jobs within six months. Q: Is federal paid sick leave in the works? OPSL is applicable if an employee is prevented from physically attending work due to a public health emergency, even if they are not personally symptomatic. Employers with more than 25 employees must provide qualifying employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for their own, or a family member’s, serious medical condition. Employers considering any work at home arrangements should strive to set concrete expectations for what is required, including work hours, availability, and productivity. That said, privacy laws prevent employers from sharing any specific medical information of another employee. During the time I'm furloughed, will my contributions to my 401(k) or health savings account continue? Can I file a jobless claim if I work for myself or in the gig economy? Americans are increasingly worried about how they are going to pay their bills as the coronavirus forces businesses to close and costs millions of people their jobs. "If there’s language in (the employee benefit plan) that allows for a continuation of health coverage during short periods of leave, the employer could continue the personal health care coverage,'' Clayton says. Do you have to check in regularly to continue getting benefits? Federal officials are giving states leeway because of the pandemic, so yes, your state could give you unemployment insurance benefits if your job site shuts down due to the virus. Oregon employees laid off or furloughed will likely be entitled to unemployment benefits. Those who worked in states like Florida where the initial period is only 12 weeks, would be eligible for the unemployment program specifically pegged to the pandemic, which tacks on another 14 weeks. But you may still need to go online weekly to confirm you're still unemployed. "People should apply for benefits the day they become unemployed,'' Evermore says. Furlough/Layoff Considerations. What if my workplace temporarily shuts down because of COVID-19 and I can't go work? Oregon has about 28,000 federal employees, labor data show. Postal Service. Do I qualify for unemployment? "Getting rid of the waiting week doesn't have anything to do with processing times,'' says Evermore, adding that before the current crisis, it could take two to three weeks for your first check to arrive. • Employees under the plan must have worked for the employer continuously for 6 months on a full-time basis or for 1 year on a part-time basis. Other considerations include personal workspace safety, ergonomics, confidentiality of information, and communication expectations. The FFCRA, if enacted, will require employers with … The pandemic aid program dates back to Jan. 27, so those who lost jobs for COVID-19-related reasons should get a benefit starting from when they became unemployed. Some states have amended their unemployment regulations to account for the COVID-19 outbreak (including neighboring Washington) and employers should follow applicable updates to become aware of potential changes. Can I get benefits? If I have two jobs, and I lose one, can I apply for unemployment? Federal employees who were either furloughed or worked without pay due to the partial federal government shutdown, received unemployment insurance benefits, and received back pay after the shutdown ended may be required to pay the unemployment insurance benefits back. No. It can be as brief or as long as the employer wants. Employers must select people for furlough in a fair way to avoid any discrimination. Employee Benefits and Furloughs in the Era of COVID-19. Furloughs can take place in both public and private institutions. It will be in place from Jan. 27, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2020. An employer is not required to pay a non-exempt employee who is furloughed. For any non-symptomatic employees denied work as a precaution, a penalty under this law would seem unlikely given the state of this crisis, and the speed of its development. For instance, in Florida, it tops out at $275 while in Oregon, the maximum is $648. Donation programs should be implemented pursuant to a specific policy. Employees must voluntarily consent to the pre-payment and can elect to make the payment on a pre-tax basis through a salary reduction (if the employer’s Section 125/Cafeteria Plan allows for it) or on a … But help is on the way. Oregon law also provides a $1,000 civil penalty for willful failure to pay wages at termination as well as costs, interest and attorney fees. Typically, some states offer fewer weeks of benefits than others. Furloughing employees during a temporary crisis is usually more favorable than a layoff unless the employer does not believe the work will return. Otherwise healthy employees may be required to stay home, not work, and exhaust any personally available OPSL, subject to the public health emergency provision. Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney. How long will the COVID-19 related federal program last? When a furlough is for less than one full workweek and a salaried, exempt worker performs any work during that week, the employer must pay the exempt employee's full weekly salary. If your employer is not going to continue covering your health insurance during your furlough period, you should be able to pay for your company health plan on your own through COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act). A furlough occurs when the employer is reducing the days or weeks an employee may perform work. So how do you file? Who can be furloughed. You also can call Oregon’s Unemployment Department at 503-947-1394. Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA). Exceptions exist, however, for work interruptions due to the cancellation of events, or on the recommendations of a public health official. This article will not revisit the basics of the virus or macro issues that arise as a result. Additional information about federal WARN duties can be found in this article, and at the link provided above. "Employers can furlough their staff for less than this 3 month period, with the only restriction from the Government being that the furlough period must last at least a minimum of 3 weeks. Some Oregon employers may permit employees, whether healthy or high risk, to work remotely to slow the spread of the disease. Employers with more than 25 employees must provide qualifying employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for their own, or a family member’s, serious medical condition. With certain exceptions, employers may limit this liability to 100% of unpaid wages by paying final wages within 12 days of written notice from the employee that wages remain due. Do employers pay for health benefits for furloughed workers? The extent to which this regulation requires proactive measures before a known infection in the workplace is unclear. What's the difference between being furloughed and laid off? Health insurance is a key driver to the furlough because most plans have limits on how long you can be on a leave of absence or a furlough. I live in one state but work in another. Retail giants furlough workers amid pandemic 04:19 Consistent with company policy, employers may permit otherwise healthy employees, who are not working, to stay home on an unpaid leave basis, if the employee wishes to save their sick leave; but if OPSL is requested, it must be provided. Employers interested in adopting such a policy should consult with counsel about their specific needs. 652.160; OR Admin. A record 6.65 million Americans filed first-time jobless claims last week, the Labor Department said Thursday. So, for exempt employees facing reduced hours, employers may choose to schedule them “one week on, one week off,” as opposed to partial weeks. The formula for figuring out how much aid you can get varies by state, but you should be able to receive some financial assistance. Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA). Oregon employers have a duty to provide a place of employment, free from recognized hazards that cause or are likely to cause the death or serious physical harm to employees. Under Oregon’s anti-discrimination laws relating to age (the elderly) and disabilities (individuals with chronic health conditions), permitting home work as a reasonable accommodation, where possible and not an undue hardship on the business, may be legally required. Where do I file my jobless claim? Employers with more than 25 employees must provide qualifying employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to … In Oregon, you may qualify for benefits. Employers should make sure employees understand any relevant policies and might consider reminding staff of such policies. Yes. But under the CARES Act, anyone who is still out of work when their state benefit period runs out will be able to get payments for an additional 13 weeks from the federal government. © Gannett Co., Inc. 2021. In Oregon, the "waiting week" is still in effect. The deduction will not be doubled. Employers, other than agricultural or domestic employers, who: • Pay $1000 or more to employees in a calendar quarter, or • Have one or more employees in each of 18 separate weeks during any calendar year. What if I still have a job, but I can't work because I'm quarantined? All rights reserved. A layoff, on the other hand, is generally more permanent, with an uncertain return to work at best. Rules 839-001-0460 Here's what workers should know if they expect their temporary job loss to become permanent. You can get benefits in either case. Yes. Employers should stay apprised of additional legislative, regulatory, and other developments as the situation continues to unfold and should consult counsel with questions. In general, if an employer reduces the hours of a nonexempt employee, the employee must be paid only for the hours actually worked. "You should apply where you work, not where you live,'' says Evermore, adding that your company is paying taxes in the state where you do your job, and those officials will have all your relevant information on file. Pre-payment: Employers can allow employees to pre-pay premiums prior to any furlough. You also can call Oregon’s Unemployment Department at 503-947-1394. If my child's school or daycare center is closed and I can't go to work, can I get unemployment? Unemployment Benefits. But don't expect to immediately get a check. It depends on the state and it's not clear how the federal relief act may impact those rules. So if an employer reduces the hours of employees by 50 percent and this lasts for over six months, then a … The furlough scheme (Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme) has been extended until 30 April 2021. The Register-Guard ~ 3500 Chad Drive, Suite 600, Eugene, OR 97408 ~ Do Not Sell My Personal Information ~ Cookie Policy ~ Do Not Sell My Personal Information ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service ~ Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. What if I leave my job because of a risk of exposure to the virus, or to take care of a relative who's been infected? They do not need to have been on furlough before. Because of COVID-19, your state can choose to provide you with financial assistance while you are off work. What if I work part-time and lose my job because of the virus? Unless a willful agreement has been met by both parties, an employer’s policy or agreement determines whether earned, unused vacation is … In Oregon, employers with 500 or more employees worldwide in the retail, hospitality, or food service industries are required to compensate employees for late changes to work schedules. Employers are urged to take all available precautions to mitigate the risks of contamination in the workplace while respecting individual privacy rights. Unemployment insurance is a joint program between the federal government and the states set up to provide some money to people who are trying to get a job but can't find one. Workers who are laid off are removed from a company's payroll, though they may be rehired at some point in the future. 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