Free Newsletter
Recent Articles from Elizabeth Semler
OP-ED: Take note that Oregon Workplace Fairness Act is now fully effective
As of Oct. 1, 2020, employer obligations under the Workplace Fairness Act went into effect requiring changes in employment agreements and employer harassment policies.
OP-ED: Businesses’ trade secrets must be kept secret (to be protected)
Businesses often seek to use litigation to stop a former employee (and his or her new employer) from using information that they consider confidential. Emergency relief in the form of […]
OP-ED: For employers in 2016, change is in the air
Here are some suggested resolutions for Oregon employers in 2016: Pay for sick time Starting Jan. 1, private employers in Oregon with 10 or more employees are required to provide […]
Supervisors, managers need to be trained in details of family, medical leave acts
Do you train your supervisors to understand the federal Family Medical Leave Act (鈥淔MLA鈥�) and the Oregon Family Leave Act (鈥淥FLA鈥�)? What about the person who handles employee phone calls […]
Incorporate personal electronic devices into communications policies
Increasingly, employees are using personal cellphones, tablets, laptop computers and other electronic devices for work, including remote access to employer networks and databases. In the not-too-distant past, employers’ electronic […]
A look at the worker classification issue, from a tax angle
By now, most employers are familiar with the risks of misclassifying employees as independent contractors. In the tax context, misclassification can result in significant liability for unpaid employment taxes, […]
Outside salespeople and noncompetition agreements in Oregon
Oregon employers should be familiar with Oregon鈥檚 unique statute governing the validity of noncompetition agreements between employers and employees. The statute, ORS聽653.295, lists the conditions under which a noncompetition agreement […]
Employers face new obligations to disabled veterans
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 25 percent of new veterans report possessing a service-connected disability. While not all service-connected disabilities qualify as disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities […]
Employers: What’s age got to do with it?
Think 76 is too old to work as a diesel mechanic? Think 60 is too old to teach English as a second language? Think again. Recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission […]
Employers, beware: a salaried employee is not automatically an exempt employee
Most employers are generally familiar with the difference between exempt and nonexempt employees: exempt employees are paid a salary and do not receive overtime pay; nonexempt employees are paid by […]
News
- $960,000 office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 10, 2026
- Two projects in historic districts in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 10, 2026
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
