Mission: Protect the right of employers to lawfully manage their workplaces.

Goals:

• Support workplace laws and regulations that enable Oregon businesses to be competitive locally, nationally and internationally.
• Support workplace policies that allow employers to manage their workplaces without unnecessary government intrusion or mandates.
• Support workplace policies that give employers the maximum ability to promote the well-being of their employees, including flexible work hours, drug-free workplaces, and the ability to offer competitive wages and benefits.

Family Leave

AOI Position:

AOI opposes further expansion of the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA) that places an increased regulatory burden on employers, including the expansion of mandated leave opportunities.

AOI opposes paid family leave legislation, paid for either by em­ployee taxes or employer payroll taxes.

The 1995 Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA), requires employers with 25 or more employees to grant up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually to employees for pregnancy leave, family leave, or parental leave. The 2007 legislature further expanded OFLA: 1) employers must allow employees to access all accrued paid leave, includ­ing sick leave, while taking time off for family leave; 2) leave for a workers’ compensation injury no longer runs concurrently with family leave; and 3) the OFLA covers care for grandparents and grandchildren.

Labor

AOI Position:

AOI supports the right of employees to engage in fair and secret ballot elections in union organizing campaigns.

AOI opposes a “card check” system for private employers that would subject employees to coercion and take away the ability of workers to vote in a secret ballot union election.

Medical Marijuana

AOI Position:

AOI supports legislation to clarify that Oregon employers are not required to accommodate medical marijuana in the workplace, regardless of when or where the use occurs.

There are 20,500 medical marijuana cardholders, with another 2,000 pending applications. The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) has taken the position that employers are required to provide workplace accommodations to employees with medical marijuana cards, which in many cases, may present a danger to other workers.

Unemployment Insurance

AOI Position:

AOI supports legislation that protects the integrity and solvency of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund.

AOI supports legislation that maintains a stable and predictable UI tax structure.

AOI opposes the diversion of UI benefits beyond their intended use.

AOI supports legislation to strengthen provisions for denial of UI benefits for violation of workplace drug and alcohol policies.

The UI program is funded by employer taxes and is designed to help maintain purchasing power of communities through worker income replacement.  Oregon has a forward-funded program intended to minimize higher taxes during a recession when employers can least afford an increase in the costs of doing business.

Wage & Hour

AOI Position:

AOI supports Oregon’s current, flexible weekly overtime standard.

AOI opposes inflexible daily overtime requirements.

AOI supports laws that allow flexibility in scheduling meal and rest break periods.

In 2007, legislation and a ballot measure were both proposed to replace Oregon’s 40-hour weekly overtime requirement with a daily overtime requirement that would impair schedul­ing flexibility for employers and employees. In 2008 the Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI) attempted to pass rules that would mandate that employers enforce meal and rest breaks and eliminated any flexibility for employers with unique industry needs.

Workers’ Compensation

AOI Position:

AOI supports current definitions of attending physician.

AOI supports a strengthened Managed Care Organization structure.

AOI supports the Management-Labor Advisory Council (MLAC) process and opposes legislation not approved by MLAC.

Oregon workers’ compensation system is a national model. Premiums to Oregon employers have dropped by 62 percent since 1990, saving employers more than $16.4 billion. At the same time, benefits to injured workers have dramatically improved.

Workplace Regulation/OSHA

AOI Position:

AOI opposes increased OSHA enforcement unless preceded by increase in consultation staff.

AOI opposes increased OR-OSHA penalties.

AOI opposes blanket ergonomic standard for Oregon employers.

Oregon’s workplaces are regulated by OR-OSHA on matters pertaining to workplace and occupational safety. Oregon workplaces are governed by a state plan, which by law must provide at least as much protection as federal law.