Farewell to Oregon's $9.25 state-wide minimum wage!  Oregon's new law adopts a dramatically different approach by dividing the state into three wage areas: Portland Metro, Standard and Non-urban. 
 
Beginning July 1st the rates are:
  • $9.75 per hour for Portland Metro employers (those within the Metro's Urban Growth Boundary);
  • $9.75 for Standard area employers (e.g. Eugene-Springfield, Medford, Corvallis, Northern Coast and Bend);
  • $9.50 for Non-urban employers (covering the rest of the state)
  • Click here to see the rate increases across time for each wage area.

 

Many employee's work requires them to "hit the road," so this new approach requires some specialized rules:
  • Employees performing 50% or more work in a permanent fixed business location in Oregon must be paid the rate required in the region the business is located,
  • Employees making deliveries that start and end at the permanent fixed business location must be paid the rate required in the region the business is located,
  • Employees performing less than 50% of work in an employers' permanent fixed business location must be paid the applicable minimum wage rate of the region in which the employee works,
  • For employees performing work in multiple regions, employers must pay either:
1.   The applicable minimum wage rates of wage for each hour worked in each region in which the employee worked; or
 
2.   the highest minimum rate of wage required for any region in which the employee worked for all hours worked by the employee during the pay period.
  • If an employee performs work in more than one region in a pay period, the employer must maintain records of the locations in which the employee worked unless the employer pays the highest rate of wage required for any region in which the employee worked for all hours worked by the employee during the work period.
 
Don't forget these changes require updates to your labor law posters!  You can click these links to download the required notice in English or Spanish. 
 
Or you can order an updated and fully laminated Oregon-Federal poster from UEA!
Send us a quick note at umta@unitedemployers.org.
 
For a look at the regulation itself click: OAR 839-020-0011.
 
Confused? Never fear, we are here to help! Please reach out with any questions via email to jtowne@unitedemployers.org, or call (503) 595-2170.
This Employment Law Alert provided by:
United Employers Association
906 NE 19th Ave.  Portland, OR  97232

United Employers Association | 906 NE 19th Avenue | Portland | OR | 97232