Overtime Pay for Agricultural Workers: Policy to Practice

Webinar
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Registration is free and open to all

Starting January 1, 2023, Oregon employers were required to pay overtime to agricultural workers after they worked 55 hours in one workweek. As of January 1, 2025, agricultural workers are eligible for overtime pay after 48 hours in a workweek. How is agricultural worker defined? What defines a work week? What are the implications of this new law for workers and employers? In the 2 years since its gradual implementation with full implementation in 2027, what do we know about how this law is working? Has the gradual implementation of the law aided employers in developing policies and practices that soften the potential economic impacts of this law? Some say it could result in agriculture workers makes less money. How has this innovation in worker focused legislation supported the health, safety, wellbeing of those who work in this industry?

Rules that Work for Workers: Paid Leave Oregon

Webinar
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Registration is free and open to all

In September 2023, Oregon implemented a paid family and medical leave program. Paid Leave Oregon provides 12-14 weeks of job-protected paid leave for Oregon workers who need to take time away from work for qualified family, medical, or safe leave. In this webinar conversation we seek to understand the implications of this program for worker health, safety, and wellbeing. We will talk to researchers evaluating the use and effectiveness of paid family and medical leave programs for diverse groups of workers and program administrators overseeing implementation of Paid Leave Oregon. A few questions we will explore: 1) How is the Paid Leave Oregon program working, 2) how does it compare other programs of its type in other states, and 3) what are the documented outcomes for workers and employers?  

Webinar
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Stream the video of the Protecting Oregon's workforce webinar

Oregon is recognized as a national leader in developing innovative legislation and policies that protect the health and safety rights of workers. This webinar will kick off a series of focused discussions that will explore the intended and unintended consequences of recent Oregon laws such as paid family leave, hospital staffing requirements, and overtime for agriculture workers.

Participants will learn about the legal landscape for workers and employers in Oregon from local and national experts. Oregon is consistently recognized by Oxfam’s Best States to Work Index. Learn from the lead researcher on the Oxfam team about how these rankings are established and tested. Learn from Oregon’s Deputy Labor Commissioner about how Oregon balances the safety and rights workers and employers in innovative ways. Download Oxfam's Best and Worst States to Work in the US 2024.

Too hot to work: How to protect workers from extreme heat and poor air quality

Virtual Webinar
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Watch the video of the "Too hot to work" webinar.

Extreme heat events have claimed more lives in the United States over the past 10 years than any other weather-related event. Climate models predict that climate change will lead to an increase in extreme heat events and associated air pollution episodes. During wildfire smoke or extreme heat events, people may also be exposed to increased levels of harmful air pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, and allergens such as pollen. Heat and air pollution tax human health in distinct ways and the ways we protect workers during heat and air pollution events are also distinct.  

In this session, participants will explore what science tells us about the synergistic effects of extreme heat and poor air quality and how to prevent exposure to these hazards effectively.