The Oregon Employment Department announced it will host a series of Paid Family Medical Leave Insurance (PFMLI) virtual town halls to collect input on implementation of the program.
Each town hall is slated to address specific aspects of the PFMLI program such as contributions, benefits, small employers, and more. Town hall participants are invited to identify issues, offer ideas, raise concerns, or make suggestions relating to the program’s development and the administrative rules needed to implement the program. All questions, comments, or concerns can be sent to: PaidFamilyandMedicalLeave@oregon.gov.
Rulemaking committees have been meeting all year and are expected to continue to meet into 2021. Premiums will start being collected for the program January 1, 2022 with employees accessing the new paid benefit January 1, 2023. The Employment Department notes, because the program is still in the process of being developed, these virtual town halls will serve as listening sessions for the PFMLI team.
A schedule for the town halls is listed below and available here along with registration information.
Contributions
October 13, 2020
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
This session will focus on employer and employee contribution rates, employer reporting requirements, remittance of payments, and collection issues.
Equivalent Plans
October 27, 2020
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
This session will focus on submission and review of equivalent plans offered by employers; renewal, withdrawal, and termination of employer plans; and resolution of disputes between employers and employees concerning equivalent plans.
Benefits
November 9, 2020
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
This session will focus on program eligibility, application for benefits, qualifying leave purposes for benefits, delivery of benefits, and requirements for employees to provide notice to employers prior to taking PFMLI leave.
Small Employers
November 17, 2020
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
This session will focus on small employers; assistance grants to help with the cost of hiring temporary replacement workers or other related costs; and job protection provisions, including continuation of health benefits and restoration to equivalent or similar positions.
Self Employed/Independent Contractors
December 8, 2020
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
This session will focus on self-employed individuals and independent contractors who elect to participate in the program, including contribution and benefit amounts and how to elect coverage.
Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate