Free Newsletter
Recent Articles from Mitch Baker
OP-ED: When hiring, go on the defensive
Employers are well served to develop a strategy for hiring. One strategy may be the 鈥渄efensive hiring process.鈥� Although the name sounds bad, the strategy itself is sound. Defensive hiring […]
OP-ED: Tips for handling love in the workplace
This Valentine’s Day, some employees may be celebrating the fact that they’ve found romance at the office. Love may be a wonderful thing, but in the workplace it can […]
Health care focus: A Portland sick leave law primer for employers
Beginning Jan. 1 of next year nearly all businesses with employees working in Portland will be required to start providing sick leave for their employees. For the majority of […]
‘At will’ firing shouldn’t lack a reason
Just because you can terminate without warning doesn
Non-competes harder to employ, but options exist
Changes to Oregon law make it more difficult to protect trade secrets, but employers aren
Don’t wait for court to toss arbitration law
A new state rule is likely unconstitutional, but it
OFLA's intricacies call for urgent care
Legislative tweaks mean employers should study Family Leave Act
House’s take on noncompetes a threat to employers
A Senate proposal unpopular with businesses is nothing compared to the amended version
Commission jobs ripe with wage, hour issues
Q: Several employees in my company have approached me lately with questions about minimum wage and overtime. My entire sales force is paid on a commission-only basis, in part because […]
News
- 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
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $10.6 million in top bidders | July 31, 2026
- Many Oregon counties struggling to maintain their fairgrounds
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
