[5]By Oregon Farm Bureau,
Two weeks ago, OFB members and friends wrote to their legislators and asked them to oppose HB 3087 [6]. HB 3087 would tax employers and workers 0.5% of payroll to fund a paid family leave mandate of 12 weeks. This would cost many family businesses thousands of dollars each year! See Farm Bureau’s comments [7] in opposition to HB 3087.
The good news? Oregon’s family businesses have another option this session, HB 3336 [8]! This Tuesday (April 4) at 1:00 PM in Hearing Room D, the House Committee on Early Childhood & Family Supports will hold a public hearing on a bill introduced by Rep. Jodi Hack (R-Salem) to provide a paid family leave option to employees. HB 3336 would create voluntary Family Leave Savings Accounts to cover wages when an employee takes family or medical leave.
HB 3336:
– Applies to employees who qualify for and take OFLA and FMLA
– Is employee-funded and flexible–allows an individual or couple to create accounts which can be used to cover wages
– Provides a carrot to small businesses–incentivizes contributions by employers and others who contribute to an employee’s Family Leave Savings Account through a tax credit
Family farmers cannot afford a new mandate, but HB 3336 would provide a mechanism to help workers cover their wages when they take family and medical leave.