As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, we want to make sure you’re able to keep your family safe and healthy. 

Nearly everyone working in Oregon should have access to job-protected sick time, and many (but not all) employees should be paid at their normal wages for that time. Here’s what you need to know about your rights to sick leave: 

• If your employer has a Portland location (regardless of where you actually work) and 6+ employees, you have paid and job-protected sick time
• If your employer has a Portland location and 5 or fewer employees, you have job-protected sick time, and your employer can opt to not pay you for this sick time
• If your employer does not have a Portland location and has 10+ employees, you have paid and job-protected sick time
• If your employer does not have a Portland location and has 9 or fewer employees, you have job-protected sick time, and your employer can opt to not pay you for this sick time

Under Oregon state law, protected sick time (both paid and unpaid) can be used if you or a loved one is sick, because you need to be quarantined, or in the case of school or workplace closures due to a public health emergency. Please use sick time if you need to. 

If you have more questions, please refer to the Bureau of Labor Industries. You can also call them with any questions that aren’t currently answered on their website. 

As things continue to unfold, know that we are continuing to fight for those who need more protections: We want to make sure that folks who can’t afford to take unpaid sick leave don’t have to choose between making ends meet or risking getting sick (or infecting others). And we want to make sure that those who are on the front lines — like nurses and other care workers — are kept safe while they do this critical work for our community.