April 2023: New Pregnancy Accommodation Notice for the State of Oregon

Update Applicable to:
All employers with six or more employees in the state of Oregon.

What happened and what are the details?
On March 3, 2023, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries updated its Pregnancy Accommodation notice. The revised statement reflects the addition of a reasonable leave period as an acceptable form of accommodation.

Which workers are covered?
All employees or applicants with known limitations related to pregnancy-related medical conditions, including lactation, are covered by this law.

What “reasonable accommodations” does my employer need to provide?
Reasonable accommodations are not specifically limited by law but could include the following:

• Acquisition or modification of equipment or devices;
• More frequent or longer break periods or periodic rest;
• Assistance with manual labor; or
• Modification of work schedules or job assignments

When does reasonable accommodation become unreasonable?
It becomes unreasonable if it would cause your employer undue hardship. Undue hardship is an action that is significantly difficult or expensive in relation to the size of the employer, the resources available, and the nature of the business.

An employer that refuses an accommodation based on undue hardship should be prepared to prove that the accommodation would create an undue hardship.

For more information, please see the links below:

Template Notices: English; Spanish

State Article

What do employers need to do?
Employers should review the links provided above and update their new posters as soon as possible to comply with the law.