2022 Archives

Alerts

• Employee Benefit Plans in a Post-Roe World: Avoiding Criminal Liability and Other Considerations

  June 30, 2022As has been widely reported, the Supreme Court released its opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on Friday, June 24, overturning the Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade which held the United Stat...
  By Christine M. Zinter
  

• Oregon Minimum Wage Increasing July 1, 2022

  June 23, 2022 A reminder to Oregon employers that starting July 1, 2022, minimum wage workers in Oregon will see an increase in pay. These new rates are in effect from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.    Due to Oregon’s three-tiered minimum...
  By Christine M. Zinter
  

• What is Web Scraping and Why Should Employers Be Concerned?

  May 17, 2022 The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in LinkedIn v. hiQ Labs, Inc. that “web scraping” is likely not illegal and allowed web scraping company hiQ Labs, Inc. to “web scrape” LinkedIn’s website,...
  By Heather J. Van Meter
  

• "Divesting” from Russia: What Employers Should Consider

  March 4, 2022 Many large companies have announced they are divesting from Russia due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The moves impact many aspects of Russia’s economy, from energy to news, furniture to clothing. BP and Shell have announced they a...
  By Heather J. Van Meter & Christine M. Zinter
  

• What does "Endemic COVID" mean for employers?

  February 22, 2022 The easing of COVID restrictions around the country amid discussion of “living with COVID” will require employers to be more vigilant in many ways while simultaneously attempting to return to normal or a new normal. Some employers ne...
  By Heather J. Van Meter
  

• Employer’s Responsibility to Withhold New Portland-Based Personal Income Taxes

  February 9, 2022 With tax season right around the corner, employers may find themselves suddenly fielding inquiries about two new Portland taxes that became effective January 1, 2021 and will first be due April 15, 2022. In May 2020, voters in the greater Portla...
  By Christine M. Zinter
  

• Oregon Makes Indoor Mask Mandate Permanent, but May Lift by March 31

  February 8, 2022On Monday, the Oregon Health Authority issued a permanent rule, OAR 333-019-1025, making the state’s indoor mask mandate permanent unless, and until, an order is issued by the Public Health Director or Health Officer rescinding some or all o...
  By Heather J. Van Meter
  

• Washington Long-Term Care Tax Officially Postponed

  February 2, 2022On January 27, 2022, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bills 1732 and 1733, delaying and amending the Washington Cares Act (often referred to as the Long-Term Care premium tax). Employer Takeaway: The bills delay the obligation to wit...
  By Christine M. Zinter
  

• So What Can Oregon and Washington Employers Do Now That The Supreme Court Ruled?

  January 18, 2022 Now That the Supreme Court Struck Down the OSHA Vaccine-or-Test Mandate, Can I Require Employees to be Vaccinated? Yes, private employers can choose to mandate vaccines, or a vaccine-or-test regime, for their companies. Both Oregon and Washin...
  By John M. Stellwagen & Heather J. Van Meter
  

• Health Plans Required to Pay for Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests

  January 13, 2022SUMMARY Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Department of Labor, and the Treasury (the “Tri Agencies”) published guidance outlining that health plans and health insurance companies must cover and/o...
  By Christine M. Zinter
  

• U.S. Supreme Court Issues Stay of OSHA’s Private Employer Vaccine-or-Test Mandate; CMS’s Medicare/Medicaid Vaccine Mandate Survives

  January 13, 2022Private Employer Vaccine-or-Test Mandate Stay Issued – Employers Do Not Need to Comply with OSHA Rule but Still Comply With State Laws The Supreme Court issued its much-anticipated ruling today, staying and putting on hold the private emp...
  By Heather J. Van Meter