The national drive toward improved health care coverage and
education coupled with Oregon's beleaguered economy provided
most of the legislative thunder for the state's 2009 session.
While employment law issues were not completely absent, much of
that legislation centered on creating jobs in a state where the
unemployment rate is second only to Michigan's.
There are, however, a few new employment-related laws or changes
to existing laws. Employers whose employees are affected by these
laws, all of which take effect on January 1, 2010 unless otherwise
noted, should review and revise their policies and handbooks as
needed:
- Senate Bill (SB) 519 - prohibits employers of
all sizes from mandating employee attendance at meetings involving
the employer's opinions regarding religious or political
matters, including unionization, and prohibits employers from
taking adverse employment action against employees who decline to
attend such meetings.1
