HR News

A comprehensive job description is more than just a recruiting tool.  For most employers, a job description is used only when hiring. Traditionally, it is a bare-bones document outlining the tasks, duties, functions, and responsibilities for performing a given job.     Job Descriptions are not just for recruiting!  Employers shouldn’t wait until there is a sudden need to hire to have a job description for each employee. Having a “ready to go” job description for […]

Cardinal Offers Affordable Group Health Insurance Plans!    Health Insurance is the #1 benefit requested by employees!   A powerful recruiting and retention perk, Group Health Insurance is almost always on the wish list for employers and their employees. However, the cost of Group Health Insurance is often prohibitively high, and many small businesses can’t afford it. If you have less than 50 employees and your business is based in Oregon, your options are limited to […]

Oregon’s House Bill 3187 strengthens existing age discrimination laws by prohibiting employers, agencies, and recruiters from requesting an applicant’s age, birthdate, or graduation dates before an initial interview or conditional job offer.  Exceptions exist for bona fide occupational qualifications (BFOQs), legal compliance (like verifying minimum working age), and certain other legitimate business needs.  Importantly, any age-related inquiries must be non-discriminatory.  The bill also removes age restrictions from apprenticeship programs.  Oregon employers must review and update […]

You might have heard about the new federal law referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill” about no taxes on tips and overtime, but how does that work and what does that mean to your employees? A key point to note is that this is a tax deduction. Employees still pay taxes on overtime and tips but get a tax deduction when they file taxes. So, employees will have to wait until tax season when […]

Recent passage of Oregon Senate Bill 916 will allow striking workers unemployment benefits. Prior to the passage of SB 916, employees that were separated from employment under certain conditions, such as a lay off or a one-time mistake at work, would qualify for unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks. Striking workers were excluded as they did not meet a qualifying reason to obtain benefits. The initial bill would have given striking workers up to […]

DO NOT ASK THESE 5 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS  There are many questions U.S. employers cannot legally ask during a job interview, but here are five of the most often asked questions that will expose you to legal liability. Questions about age, marital status, children, ethnicity, and religion should never be asked during job interviews, and if asked, will still put any company in legal jeopardy.     Here are the 5 “do not ask” interview questions:   What’s […]

Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries [BOLI] announced upcoming changes to Oregon’s minimum wage rates based on a 2.4% rise in the US Consumer Price Index from March 2024 to March 2025.   For hours worked July 1st and forward—Oregon’s minimum wage rates increase 35¢ based on year-over-year inflation: Standard Minimum Wage: $15.05 per hour Portland Metro Minimum Wage*: $16.30 per hour Non-Urban Minimum Wage**: $14.05 per hour   *Portland Metro Minimum Wage: Applies to work locations within […]

FED FORM I-9   U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has made minor changes to Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification to align with statutory language and the updated DHS Privacy Notice.     REVISED FORM I9   The revised Form I-9, with an edition date of 01/20/25 and an expiration date of 05/31/2027, is now available.   These multiple previous editions remain valid until their respective expiration dates:    Form I9 (08/01/23 edition) that is valid until 05/31/2027.   Form I9 (08/01/23 […]

    If you are a contractor and do public works with the State of Oregon, you might have heard of Executive Order 24-31 which would have required project labor agreements (think union involvement) in most cases. On March 24th a Marion County Circuit Court Judge ordered a temporary injunction delaying this Executive Order from being implemented until this case goes to trial and a final ruling issued.  Here is a link to an article […]

The rule requiring certain businesses to register ownership information with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network [FinCen] is no longer required for domestic businesses.     Per the FinCen Website [Updated March 21, 2025]   “All entities created in the United States — including those previously known as “domestic reporting companies” and their beneficial owners are now exempt from the requirement to report BOI ownership information to FinCEN.”