Oregon labor commissioner won’t let employers fire workers who lack child care

In case any large employers were thinking of terminating workers who don’t show up because school is out and they can’t find child care … Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle announced a temporary rule banning that. Hoyle cites the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA), which says that employers with over 25 workers must allow up to 12 weeks unpaid leave per year for workers to care for their minor children who have an illness, injury … or a condition that’s not a serious health condition but requires home care.

The new rule interprets that to include care for a child whose school paper writing help or place of care has been closed in conjunction with a statewide public health emergency declared by a public health official. The rule is in effect from March 18 to Sept. 13, 2020.

“We’re doing this to make sure Oregonians know they’re allowed to take this time,” said Bureau of Labor and Industries spokesperson Jenny Smith.