Effective June 3, 2021, Oregon amended (SB 716) its scheduling law (ORS 635.450) to clarify that limitations or changes in an employee’s work schedule availability may relate to childcare needs. Under the original statute, employees had the right to have input on their work schedules but employers were not required to accommodate an employee’s requests regarding their work schedule.
The amendment changes this with respect to scheduling requests related to childcare issues and requires employers to reasonably accommodate an employee’s identified limitations or changes in the employee’s work schedule availability because of matters related to childcare.
Employers should be cognizant of employee request for schedule changes due to childcare needs and engage in an interactive process. Supervisors/managers should also be trained on the requirement of the law.
