As a reminder, there are major changes coming to the Oregon Family Medical Leave Act (OFLA) beginning on July 1st. Specifically, OFLA will no longer include leave for a serious health condition for an employee or the employee’s family member (except for the employee’s child) or parental leave. OFLA Bereavement leave is capped at four weeks per leave year and OFLA Sick Child leave is expanded to include leave to care for a child who requires home care due to an illness, injury or condition, which could include a serious health condition.
Additionally, Paid Leave Oregon (PLO) and OFLA will no longer run concurrently and OFLA and the Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) will run concurrently only in very limited instances. OFLA is also temporarily amended, from July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024, to add two additional weeks of leave to effectuate the legal foster child or adoption process.
If an employee is scheduled to be on OFLA on or after July 1st for a reason that is no longer covered, employers must provide a notice of recission. In rescinding approval for OFLA leave, employers must provide written notice to the affected employees stating that the employee’s leave is not protected by OFLA on and after July 1. The notice must be provided by June 1, 2024. If employers rescind the approval for OFLA leave, employees must also be informed in writing that the employee may apply for benefits under Paid Leave Oregon, including contact information for Paid Leave Oregon or, if applicable, the employer’s equivalent plan. Due to these significant changes, employers need to be prepared with updated forms and policies, which includes separating out OFLA and FMLA for eligible employers.
Members of Cascade Employers Association can access the following:
Forms
- OFLA Designation Notice
- OFLA Notice of Eligibility and Rights and Responsibilities
- OFLA Attestation of Affinity
- FMLA Designation Notice
- FMLA Notice of Eligibility and Rights and Responsibility
- FMLA Certification of Health Care Provider: Employee
- FMLA Certification of Health Care: Family Member
Notices
- OFLA Change Notice
- OFLA/FMLA Change Notice
Policies
- OFLA Policy
- PLO Policy
- FMLA Policy
For more information, join us on June 4th for our webinar OFLA and PLO Update: Prepare for the Changes.