Compliance Reminder:

Paid Leave Oregon and OFLA Change - Pre-Placement Leave

Background

Starting January 1, 2025, Paid Leave Oregon (PLO) will include Pre-Placement Leave as part of the sweeping changes enacted via OR Senate Bill 1515 which IMA covered here. This bill aligns the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA) with PLO, with most changes effective starting July 1, 2024.

Pre-Placement Leave, previously covered under OFLA, will now be a protected leave reason under PLO, included in the 12-week benefit.

What is Pre-Placement Leave?

Pre-Placement leave allows employees to take leave before an adoption or foster care placement for activities such as: 

• Counseling sessions 
• Court appearances 
• Legal consultations 
• Physical examinations 
• Home studies 
• Related travel to another state or country 
• Other tasks essential to completing the legal process of an adoption or foster placement

The PLO fact sheet covers SB 1515 changes to OFLA and PLO.

Which Employees are Eligible for this Leave?

As with other types of leave under PLO, employees who earned $1,000 in Oregon wages during the base year are eligible for paid leave.  Additionally, employees who have been employed for at least 90 consecutive days are also entitled to job protection. 

Pre-placement leave can only be taken on an intermittent schedule. This means that they take leave between the start and end date of their leave, but also may work some days or weeks during this time frame.

Employer Action Item

Amend your OFLA and PLO policies to reflect these changes.

IMA will continue to monitor regulator guidance and offer meaningful, practical, timely information. This material should not be considered as a substitute for legal, tax and/or actuarial advice. Contact the appropriate professional counsel for such matters. These materials are not exhaustive and are subject to possible changes in applicable laws, rules, and regulations and their interpretations.

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