Take It or Leave It Episode 31- Six Months of Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave: A Discussion with Karen Humelbaugh

Take It or Leave It is the only law firm podcast focused exclusively on workplace leaves, absence management, and accommodations. Host Josh Seidman, Employment attorney and leader of Seyfarth’s Leave of Absence Management & Accommodations team, explores the latest legal developments, forecasts new laws, identifies workplace trends, and offers practical, business-oriented considerations within the leave, absence management, and accommodations space.

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Episode 31 – Six Months of Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave: A Discussion with Karen Humelbaugh, Director of Paid Leave Oregon

Six months ago, in September 2023, the Oregon paid family and medical leave program, known as Paid Leave Oregon, officially went “live” and began providing benefits to eligible employees, which means it officially turns 6 months old in early March 2024. In that time, the program has had a major impact on employers and employees across the state, with Oregon providing paid leave benefits to tens of thousands of eligible employees.

To celebrate this milestone, host Josh Seidman sits down with Karen Humelbaugh, the Director of Paid Leave Oregon, to discuss the program's history and details, including eligibility, approval process, and benefits administration, as well as lessons learned and adjustments being made to Paid Leave Oregon since September 2023. Karen also joins Josh in breaking down current standards on the interplay between Paid Leave Oregon and employer-provided paid leave benefits and with the Oregon Family Leave Act, potential amendments to this aspect of Paid Leave Oregon during the State’s current legislative session, complications created by remote, hybrid and mobile employees, and private plan intricacies. Join them for this celebratory episode looking into a landmark program, and how it may be a harbinger of programs to come.