2005 Oregon Code - Chapter 652 :: Chapter 652 - Hours - Wages - Wage Claims - Records
Chapter 652 — Hours; Wages; Wage Claims; Records
2005 EDITION
HOURS; WAGES; WAGE CLAIMS; RECORDS
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
HOURS OF LABOR
652.010Â Â Â Â Declaration of public policy concerning maximum working hours in certain industries
652.020Â Â Â Â Maximum working hours in certain industries; overtime hours and pay; exemptions
652.030Â Â Â Â Enforcement of ORS 652.010 and 652.020 dependent upon like laws in other states
652.040Â Â Â Â Maximum working hours in mines
652.050Â Â Â Â Definitions for ORS 652.050 to 652.080
652.060Â Â Â Â Maximum working hours for firefighters
652.070Â Â Â Â Overtime pay for firefighters
652.080Â Â Â Â Computing hours on duty for purposes of ORS 652.060 and 652.070
PAYMENT AND COLLECTION OF WAGES GENERALLY
652.110Â Â Â Â Medium of paying employees
652.120Â Â Â Â Establishing regular payday; pay intervals; agreement to pay wages at future date
652.125Â Â Â Â Bond required when failure to make timely wage payment occurs; court to enjoin business of employer failing to provide bond
652.130Â Â Â Â Payment of wages due persons employed on piece work scale or quantity basis in forest product industries; furnishing statement of scale or quantity produced
652.140Â Â Â Â Payment of wages on termination of employment; exception for collective bargaining
652.145Â Â Â Â Payment of wages for seasonal farmworkers
652.150Â Â Â Â Penalty wage for failure to pay wages on termination of employment
652.160Â Â Â Â Payment in case of dispute over wages
652.165Â Â Â Â Rules for wage collection and payment
652.170Â Â Â Â Payment of wages in case of strikes
652.190Â Â Â Â Payment of wages to surviving spouse or dependent children
652.200Â Â Â Â Attorney fee in action for wages
652.210Â Â Â Â Definitions for ORS 652.210 to 652.230
652.220Â Â Â Â Prohibition of discriminatory wage rates based on sex; employer not to discriminate against employee-complainant
652.230Â Â Â Â Employee right of action against employer for unpaid wages and damages
652.240Â Â Â Â Paying wage lower than that required by statute or contract prohibited
652.250Â Â Â Â Public employeeÂ’s wages as affected by absence to engage in search or rescue operation
ENFORCEMENT OF WAGE CLAIMS
(Generally)
652.310Â Â Â Â Definitions of employer and employee
652.320Â Â Â Â Definitions for ORS 652.310 to 652.414
652.330Â Â Â Â Powers and duties of commissioner in enforcing wage claims; parties to wage claim action
652.332Â Â Â Â Administrative proceeding for wage claim collection; court enforcement and review; rules
652.335Â Â Â Â Liability of liquor dispenser licensee for wage claims of certain individuals
652.340Â Â Â Â Requiring bond of employer
652.355Â Â Â Â Prohibition of discrimination because of wage claim; remedy
652.360Â Â Â Â Contract exempting employer from liability or penalty not valid; exceptions
652.370Â Â Â Â Jurisdiction of courts; proceedings in name of state
652.380Â Â Â Â Remedies cumulative; effect of payment or tender by employer after proceeding commenced
652.390Â Â Â Â Deduction of costs from wage claims; collection fees; assignment of wage claims
652.400Â Â Â Â Deposit of moneys in Wage Collection Account; payment to persons entitled thereto
652.405Â Â Â Â Disposition of wages collected by commissioner when payment cannot be made to person entitled thereto
(Wage Security Fund)
652.409Â Â Â Â Wage Security Fund; use
652.414Â Â Â Â Procedure for payment from fund; lien against personal property of employer; penalties; rules
(Reciprocal Enforcement of Wage Claims)
652.420Â Â Â Â Definitions for ORS 652.420 to 652.445
652.425Â Â Â Â Authority of commissioner to enter into agreements with other states for reciprocal enforcement of wage claims
652.430Â Â Â Â Assigning wage claim to labor bureau of another state
652.435Â Â Â Â Accepting assignments of wage claims from labor bureau of another state
652.440Â Â Â Â Retention by commissioner or labor bureau of percentage of funds collected
652.445Â Â Â Â Deposit of moneys in Wage Collection Account
PRIORITY OF WAGE CLAIMS
652.500Â Â Â Â Receiver to pay accrued wages; payment of employees; receiverÂ’s certificates
652.510Â Â Â Â Payment of wage claims by receivers, assignees or court; filing statement of wages due
652.520Â Â Â Â Form of statement of wage claim
652.530Â Â Â Â Serving copy of statement; report to court; order of payment
652.540Â Â Â Â Exception to claim; legal action on claim
652.550Â Â Â Â Payment of claims prerequisite to discharge of attachment or execution, assignee or receiver, or to abandonment of seizure or sale
652.560Â Â Â Â Costs and attorney fees
652.570Â Â Â Â Priority of wage claims over transfers in payment of preexisting obligations; payment and subrogation of transferee
STATEMENTS RELATING TO EMPLOYEEÂ’S SALARY AND DEDUCTIONS THEREFROM
(Generally)
652.610Â Â Â Â Itemized statement of amounts and purposes of deductions required
652.615Â Â Â Â Remedy for violation of ORS 652.610
652.620Â Â Â Â Statement of yearly compensation on request of employee
(Agricultural Workers)
652.630Â Â Â Â Definitions for ORS 652.630 to 652.640
652.635Â Â Â Â Producers to post certain terms of employment
652.640Â Â Â Â Itemized statement of compensation and deductions required
FEES OR DEDUCTIONS FOR MEDICAL CARE
652.710Â Â Â Â Fees collected by employer for medical care contracts are trust funds; priority on liquidation; civil penalty; rules
652.720Â Â Â Â Prohibited use by employer of fees for medical care contracts withheld from employee wages
PERSONNEL RECORDS
652.750Â Â Â Â Inspection of records by employee; furnishing copy to employee; disposition of record on termination of employment; charge for copies
PENALTIES
652.900Â Â Â Â Civil penalties
652.990Â Â Â Â Criminal penalties
HOURS OF LABOR
     652.010
Declaration of public policy concerning maximum working hours in certain
industries. (1) It is the public policy of this state that no person shall
be hired, nor permitted to work for wages, under any conditions or terms, for
longer hours or days of service than is consistent with the personÂ’s health and
physical well-being and ability to promote the general welfare by the personÂ’s
increasing usefulness as a healthy and intelligent citizen.
     (2) It hereby is declared that the working of any person more than 10 hours in one day in any mill, factory or manufacturing establishment or the working of any person more than eight hours, exclusive of one hour, more or less, in one day, or more than 48 hours in one calendar week in sawmills, planing mills, shingle mills and logging camps is injurious to the physical health and well-being of such person, and tends to prevent the person from acquiring that degree of intelligence that is necessary to make the person a useful and desirable citizen of the state.
     652.020
Maximum working hours in certain industries; overtime hours and pay;
exemptions. (1) No person shall be employed in any mill, factory or
manufacturing establishment in this state more than 10 hours in any one day, or
in sawmills, planing mills, shingle mills and logging camps more than eight
hours, exclusive of one hour, more or less, in one day or more than 48 hours in
one calendar week, except logging train crews, guards, firefighters and persons
engaged in the transportation to and from work, and employees when engaged in
making necessary repairs, or in the case of emergency where life and property
are in imminent danger. However, employees may work overtime not to exceed
three hours in one day, conditioned that payment be made for said overtime at
the rate of time and one-half the regular wage.
     (2) No employer shall require or permit any person to work in any place mentioned in this section more than the hours provided for in this section during any day of 24 hours. No employer shall permit or suffer an overseer, superintendent or other agent of the employer to violate this section.
     (3) This section does not apply to persons employed in the care of quarters or livestock, conducting messhalls, superintendence and direction of work, or to the loading and removal of the finished forest product.
     (4) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not apply to employees who are represented by a labor organization for purposes of collective bargaining with their employer, provided limits on the required hours of work and overtime payment have been agreed to between the employer and labor organization, or if no agreement is reached, then, for the purposes of this subsection, such limits and payments shall not be deemed to be changed from the previous collective bargaining agreement between the employer and labor organization unless the employees have been locked out, are engaged in a strike or the employer has unilaterally implemented new terms and conditions of employment. [Amended by 1989 c.852 §1; 1991 c.67 §157; 1999 c.59 §190]
     652.030
Enforcement of ORS 652.010 and 652.020 dependent upon like laws in other
states. ORS 652.010 and 652.020 shall not be enforced insofar as they
relate to working hours in sawmills, planing mills, shingle mills and logging
camps until laws containing like provisions regarding working hours in such
places of employment in the States of California, Washington and Idaho become
effective in each of those states respectively.
     652.040
Maximum working hours in mines. (1) No person who operates any underground
mine yielding gold or silver or copper or lead or other metal shall permit or
require any person to work in such underground mine for more than eight hours
in any 24 hours. The hours for such employment or work day shall be consecutive
excluding, however, any intermission of time for lunch or meals.
     (2) In the case of emergency, where life or property is in imminent danger, persons may work in such underground mines for a longer time during the continuance of the exigency or emergency. This section does not apply to mines in their first stages of development, such as tunnel work to a length of 200 feet, or shaft work to a depth of 150 feet, or to any surface excavation.
     652.050
Definitions for ORS 652.050 to 652.080. As used in ORS 652.050 to 652.080:
     (1) “Firefighter” means a person whose principal duties consist of preventing or combating fire or preventing loss of life or property from fire.
     (2) “Regularly organized fire department” means any organization maintained for the purpose of preventing or combating fire and employing one or more persons on a full-time basis as firefighters.
     (3) “Volunteer firefighter” means a person who performs services as a firefighter for a regularly organized fire department and whose work hours and work shifts are voluntary and whose volunteer service is not a condition of employment. [Amended by 1983 c.319 §1]
     652.060
Maximum working hours for firefighters. (1)(a) No person employed on a
full-time basis as a firefighter by any regularly organized fire department
maintained by any incorporated city, municipality or fire district and that
employs not more than three persons on a full-time basis as firefighters shall
be required to be on regular duty with such fire department more than 72 hours
a week. However, any affected incorporated city, municipality or fire district
shall be deemed to have complied with this paragraph and ORS 652.070 if the
hours of regular duty required of firefighters employed by it average not more
than 72 hours a week over each quarter of the fiscal year of the employing
city, municipality or fire district.
     (b) No person employed on a full-time basis as a firefighter by any regularly organized fire department maintained by any incorporated city, municipality or fire district and that employs four or more persons on a full-time basis as firefighters shall be required to be on regular duty with such fire department more than 56 hours a week. However, any affected incorporated city, municipality or fire district shall be deemed to have complied with this paragraph and ORS 652.070 if the hours of regular duty required of firefighters employed by it average not more than 56 hours a week over each quarter of the fiscal year of the employing city, municipality or fire district.
     (2) In the event this section shortens the working hours of firefighters employed by any such city, municipality or fire district, the total wages of such firefighters shall not for that reason be reduced. [Amended by 1959 c.402 §1; 1969 c.581 §1]
     652.070
Overtime pay for firefighters. (1) Every affected incorporated city,
municipality and fire district shall put into effect and maintain a schedule of
working hours required of regularly employed firefighters which shall not be in
excess of the average hours established by ORS 652.060, and which shall provide
for at least 48 consecutive hours off-duty time in each seven-day period. Any
affected incorporated city, municipality or fire district failing so to do
shall pay to every regularly employed firefighter as additional pay for every
hour of regular duty required of and performed by the firefighter over and
above the average hours established by ORS 652.060 a sum equivalent to one and
one-half times the regular hourly rate of pay at the time of such default.
However, in the case of replacement for any authorized leave, vacation or
temporary vacancy, regularly employed firefighters in a department employing
four or more persons on a full-time basis as firefighters may elect to work in
excess of 56 hours a week at not less than their regular hourly rate of pay.
     (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section requires payment of one and one-half times the hourly rate of pay to a volunteer firefighter for hours of duty performed in excess of the average hours established by ORS 652.060. [Amended by 1959 c.402 §2; 1969 c.581 §2; 1983 c.319 §2]
     652.080
Computing hours on duty for purposes of ORS 652.060 and 652.070. In
computing the average or total number of hours a week for the purposes of ORS
652.060 and 652.070, authorized vacation or sick leave time shall be considered
as time on regular duty. [1959 c.402 §4]
PAYMENT AND COLLECTION OF WAGES GENERALLY
     652.110
Medium of paying employees. No person engaged in any business or enterprise
of any kind in this state shall issue, in payment of or as evidence of
indebtedness for wages due an employee, any order, check, memorandum or other
acknowledgment of indebtedness, unless the same is negotiable, and is payable
without discount in cash on demand at some bank or other established place of
business in the county where the same is issued, and where a sufficient amount
of funds have been provided and are or will be available for the payment of
such order, check or other acknowledgment of indebtedness when due. Such person
shall, upon presentation and demand, pay any such order, check, memorandum or
other acknowledgment of indebtedness, in lawful money of the United States.
This section does not in any way limit or interfere with the right of any
employee to accept from any person, as an evidence or acknowledgment of
indebtedness for wages due the employee, a negotiable instrument, payable at
some future date with interest. An employer and an employee may agree to
authorize an employer to deposit without discount wages due the employee in the
employeeÂ’s account in a financial institution, as defined in ORS 706.008, in
this state. [Amended by 1975 c.191 §1; 1999 c.59 §191]
     652.120
Establishing regular payday; pay intervals; agreement to pay wages at future
date. (1) Every employer shall establish and maintain a regular payday, at
which date all employees shall be paid the wages due and owing to them.
     (2) Payday shall not extend beyond a period of 35 days from the time that such employees entered upon their work, or from the date of the last regular payday.
     (3) This section does not prevent the employer from establishing and maintaining paydays at more frequent intervals.
     (4) This section does not prevent any employer from entering into a written agreement, prior to the rendering of any services, and mutually satisfactory with the employer’s employees, as to the payment of wages at a future date. [Amended by 1961 c.662 §1]
     652.125
Bond required when failure to make timely wage payment occurs; court to enjoin
business of employer failing to provide bond. (1) If, upon complaint by an
employee, and after investigation, it appears to the Commissioner of the Bureau
of Labor and Industries that an employer is failing to pay wages within five
days of a payday scheduled by the employer, the commissioner may require the
employer to give a bond in such amount as the commissioner determines
necessary, with sufficient surety, to assure timely payment of wages due
employees for such future period as the commissioner considers appropriate. In
lieu of a bond, the commissioner may accept a letter of credit from an issuer
approved by the commissioner, upon such terms and conditions and for such
amount as the commissioner determines necessary to assure timely payment of
wages for such future period as the commissioner determines appropriate.
     (2) If, within 10 days after demand for such bond, the employer fails to provide the same, the commissioner may commence court action against the employer in the circuit court of appropriate jurisdiction to compel the employer to furnish such bond or cease doing business until the employer has done so. The employer shall have the burden of proving the amount thereof to be excessive.
     (3) If the court finds that there is just cause for requiring such bond and that the same is reasonably necessary or appropriate to secure the prompt payment of the wages of the employees of such employer, the court shall enjoin such employer from doing business in this state until the requirement is met, or shall make other, and may make further, orders appropriate to compel compliance with the requirement. [1989 c.651 §3]
     Note:
652.125 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to
or made a part of ORS chapter 652 or any series therein by legislative action.
See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
     652.130
Payment of wages due persons employed on piece work scale or quantity basis in
forest product industries; furnishing statement of scale or quantity produced.
Every person engaged in the business of logging or obtaining or securing
sawlogs, poles, spars, piles, cordwood, posts or other timber or forest
products, or engaged in the business of manufacturing sawlogs or other timber
into lumber, and employing one or more employees on a piece work scale or
quantity wage basis, shall furnish such employees at least once monthly, a
statement of scale or quantity produced by them to their credit, and shall pay
all wages or amounts so earned and due and payable under the law regulating
paydays.
     652.140
Payment of wages on termination of employment; exception for collective
bargaining. (1) When an employer discharges an employee or when employment
is terminated by mutual agreement, all wages earned and unpaid at the time of
the discharge or termination become due and payable not later than the end of
the first business day after the discharge or termination.
     (2)(a) When an employee who does not have a contract for a definite period quits employment, all wages earned and unpaid at the time of quitting become due and payable immediately if the employee has given to the employer not less than 48 hours’ notice, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, of intention to quit employment.
     (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, if the employee has not given to the employer the notice described in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the wages become due and payable within five days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after the employee has quit, or at the next regularly scheduled payday after the employee has quit, whichever event first occurs.
     (c) If the employee has not given to the employer the notice described in paragraph (a) of this subsection and if the employee is regularly required to submit time records to the employer to enable the employer to determine the wages due the employee, within five days after the employee has quit the employer shall pay the employee the wages the employer estimates are due and payable. Within five days after the employee has submitted the time records, all wages earned and unpaid become due and payable.
     (3) For the purpose of this section, if employment termination occurs on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, all wages earned and unpaid shall be paid no later than the end of the first business day after the employment termination, except that if the employment is related to activities authorized under ORS chapter 565, all wages earned and unpaid shall be paid no later than the end of the second business day after the employment termination.
     (4) The employer shall forward such wages by mail to any address designated by the employee if the employee requests the employer so to do. An employer may deposit such wages without discount in the employee’s account in a financial institution, as defined in ORS 706.008, in this state, provided the employee and the employer have agreed to such deposit.
     (5) This section does not apply to employment for which a collective bargaining agreement otherwise provides for the payment of wages upon termination of employment.
     (6) When a termination of employment results from the sale of a business or business property and the purchaser employs or continues the employment of an individual employed at the business, this section does not apply to the payment to such an individual of wages for earned but unused accrued holiday leave, sick leave, vacation leave or other leave benefits payable upon termination of employment pursuant to a collective bargaining or other employment agreement or employer policy, if the following conditions are met:
     (a) On the first day of such an individual’s continued employment the purchaser of the business credits the individual with all such earned but unused accrued leave; and
     (b) The leave, when used, is paid at a rate not less than the rate at which the leave was earned or, if paid at a lesser rate, the number of hours credited is increased to compensate the individual for any difference. [Amended by 1957 c.242 §1; 1975 c.192 §1; 1991 c.966 §1; 1995 c.753 §1; 1997 c.233 §1; 1999 c.59 §192; 2005 c.664 §1]
     652.145
Payment of wages for seasonal farmworkers. Notwithstanding ORS 652.140, if
an employee has worked for an employer as a seasonal farmworker, whenever the
employment terminates, all wages earned and unpaid become due and payable
immediately. However, if the employee quits without giving the employer at
least 48 hoursÂ’ notice, wages earned and unpaid are due and payable within 48
hours after the employee has quit, or at the next regularly scheduled payday
after the employee has quit, whichever event first occurs. As used in this
section, “seasonal farmworker” means an individual who, for an agreed
remuneration or rate of pay, performs temporary labor for another in the
production of farm products or in the planting, cultivating or harvesting of
seasonal agricultural crops or in the forestation or reforestation of lands
including, but not limited to, the planting, transplanting, tubing,
precommercial thinning and thinning of trees and seedlings, the clearing,
piling and disposal of brush and slash and other related activities. [1991
c.966 §4; 2001 c.613 §17]
     652.150
Penalty wage for failure to pay wages on termination of employment. (1)
Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, if an employer
willfully fails to pay any wages or compensation of any employee whose
employment ceases, as provided in ORS 652.140 and 652.145, then, as a penalty
for the nonpayment, the wages or compensation of the employee shall continue
from the due date thereof at the same hourly rate for eight hours per day until
paid or until action therefor is commenced. However:
     (a) In no case shall the penalty wages or compensation continue for more than 30 days from the due date; and
     (b) A penalty may not be assessed under this section when an employer pays an employee the wages the employer estimates are due and payable under ORS 652.140 (2)(c) and the estimated amount of wages paid is less than the actual amount of earned and unpaid wages, as long as the employer pays the employee all wages earned and unpaid within five days after the employee submits the time records.
     (2) If the employee or a person on behalf of the employee sends a written notice of nonpayment, the penalty may not exceed 100 percent of the employee’s unpaid wages or compensation unless the employer fails to pay the full amount of the employee’s unpaid wages or compensation within 12 days after receiving the written notice. If the employee or a person on behalf of the employee fails to send the written notice, the penalty may not exceed 100 percent of the employee’s unpaid wages or compensation. For purposes of determining when an employer has paid wages or compensation under this subsection, payment occurs on the date the employer delivers the payment to the employee or sends the payment by first class mail, express mail or courier service.
     (3)(a) For purposes of this section, a commission owed to an employee by a business that primarily sells motor vehicles or farm implements is not due until all of the terms and conditions of an agreement between the employer and employee concerning the method of payment of commissions are fulfilled. If no such agreement exists, the commission is due with all other earned and unpaid wages or compensation as provided in ORS 652.140.
     (b) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, when there is a dispute between an employer and an employee concerning the amount of commission due under paragraph (a) of this subsection, if the amount of unpaid commission is found to be less than 20 percent of the amount of unpaid commission claimed by the employee, the penalty may not exceed the amount of the unpaid commission or $200, whichever is greater.
     (4) Subsections (2) and (3)(b) of this section do not apply when:
     (a) The employer has violated ORS 652.140 or 652.145 one or more times in the year before the employee’s employment ceased; or
     (b) The employer terminated one or more other employees on the same date that the employee’s employment ceased.
     (5) The employer may avoid liability for the penalty described in this section by showing financial inability to pay the wages or compensation at the time the wages or compensation accrued. [Amended by 1957 c.244 §1; 1991 c.966 §2; 1995 c.501 §1; 2001 c.690 §1; 2003 c.779 §1; 2005 c.664 §2]
     652.160
Payment in case of dispute over wages. In case of dispute over wages, the
employer must pay, without condition, and within the time set by ORS 652.140,
all wages conceded by the employer to be due, leaving the employee all remedies
the employee might otherwise have or be entitled to as to any balance the
employee might claim.
     652.165
Rules for wage collection and payment. In accordance with any applicable
provision of ORS chapter 183, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and
Industries may adopt rules to carry out the provisions of ORS 652.140 to
652.160. [1995 c.501 §3]
     652.170
Payment of wages in case of strikes. When any number of employees enter
upon a strike, the wages due such striking employees at the time of entering
upon such strike shall not become due and payable until the next regular payday
after the commencement of such strike, if the time between the commencement of
the strike and the next regular payday does not exceed a period of 30 days. If
the intervening time does exceed the period of 30 days, then the wages shall be
due and payable 30 days after the commencement of the strike.
     652.180
[Repealed by 1953 c.515 §2]
     652.190
Payment of wages to surviving spouse or dependent children. All wages
earned by an employee, not exceeding $10,000, shall, upon the employeeÂ’s death,
become due and payable to the employeeÂ’s surviving spouse, or if there is no
surviving spouse, the dependent children, or their guardians or the
conservators of their estates, in equal shares, to the same extent as if the
wages had been earned by such surviving spouse or dependent children. As used
in this section, “wages” means compensation of employees based on time worked
or output of production and includes every form of remuneration payable for a
given period to an individual for personal services. [Amended by 1971 c.448 §1;
1981 c.594 §1; 1997 c.52 §1]
     652.200
Attorney fee in action for wages. (1) In any action for the collection of
any order, check, memorandum or other acknowledgment of indebtedness referred
to in ORS 652.110, if it is shown that the order, check, memorandum or other
acknowledgment of indebtedness was not paid for a period of 48 hours, excluding
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after presentation and demand for the payment
thereof, the court shall, upon entering judgment for the plaintiff, include in
such judgment, in addition to the costs and disbursements otherwise prescribed
by statute, a reasonable sum for attorney fees at trial and on appeal for
prosecuting said action, unless it appears that the employee has willfully
violated the contract of employment.
     (2) In any action for the collection of wages, if it is shown that the wages were not paid for a period of 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after the same became due and payable, the court shall, upon entering judgment for the plaintiff, include in such judgment, in addition to the costs and disbursements otherwise prescribed by statute, a reasonable sum for attorney fees at trial and on appeal for prosecuting said action, unless it appears that the employee has willfully violated the contract of employment or unless the court finds that the plaintiff’s attorney unreasonably failed to give written notice of the wage claim to the employer before filing the action. [Amended by 1957 c.242 §2; 1981 c.897 §86; 2001 c.279 §1]
     652.210
Definitions for ORS 652.210 to 652.230. As used in ORS 652.210 to 652.230,
unless the context requires otherwise:
     (1) “Employee” means any individual who, otherwise than as a copartner of the employer, as an independent contractor or as a participant in a work training program administered under the state or federal assistance laws, renders personal services wholly or partly in this state to an employer who pays or agrees to pay such individual at a fixed rate. However, when services are rendered only partly in this state, an individual is not an employee unless the contract of employment of the employee has been entered into, or payments thereunder are ordinarily made or to be made, within this state.
     (2) “Employer” means any person employing one or more employees, including the State of Oregon or any political subdivision thereof or any county, city, district, authority, public corporation or entity and any of their instrumentalities organized and existing under law or charter. “Employer” does not include the federal government.
     (3) “Rate” with reference to wages means the basis of compensation for services by an employee for an employer and includes compensation based on the time spent in the performance of the services, on the number of operations accomplished or on the quantity produced or handled.
     (4) “Unpaid wages” means the difference between the wages actually paid to an employee and the wages required under ORS 652.220 to be paid to the employee.
     (5) “Wages” means all compensation for performance of service by an employee for an employer, whether paid by the employer or another person, including cash value of all compensation paid in any medium other than cash. [1955 c.193 §1; 1985 c.100 §1; 1987 c.158 §124; 1993 c.739 §25; 2005 c.22 §457]
     652.220
Prohibition of discriminatory wage rates based on sex; employer not to
discriminate against employee-complainant. (1) No employer shall:
     (a) In any manner discriminate between the sexes in the payment of wages for work of comparable character, the performance of which requires comparable skills.
     (b) Pay wages to any employee at a rate less than that at which the employer pays wages to employees of the opposite sex for work of comparable character, the performance of which requires comparable skills.
     (2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply where:
     (a) Payment is made pursuant to a seniority or merit system which does not discriminate on the basis of sex.
     (b) A differential in wages between employees is based in good faith on factors other than sex.
     (3) No employer shall in any manner discriminate in the payment of wages against any employee because the employee has filed a complaint in a proceeding under ORS 652.210 to 652.230, or has testified, or is about to testify, or because the employer believes that the employee may testify, in any investigation or proceedings pursuant to ORS 652.210 to 652.230 or in a criminal action pursuant to ORS 652.210 to 652.230. [1955 c.193 §2]
     652.230
Employee right of action against employer for unpaid wages and damages. (1)
Any employee whose compensation is at a rate that is in violation of ORS
652.220 shall have a right of action against the employer for the recovery of:
     (a) The amount of the unpaid wages to which the employee is entitled for the one year period preceding the commencement of the action; and
     (b) An additional amount as liquidated damages equal to the amount referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
     (2) The court shall award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing plaintiff in an action under this section. The court may award reasonable attorney fees and expert witness fees incurred by a defendant who prevails in the action if the court determines that the plaintiff had no objectively reasonable basis for asserting a claim or no objectively reasonable basis for appealing an adverse decision of a trial court.
     (3) The action for the unpaid wages and liquidated damages may be maintained by one or more employees on behalf of themselves or other employees similarly situated.
     (4) No agreement for compensation at a rate less than the rate to which such employee is entitled under ORS 652.210 to 652.230 is a defense to any action under ORS 652.210 to 652.230. [1955 c.193 §3; 1981 c.894 §87; 1995 c.618 §110]
     652.240
Paying wage lower than that required by statute or contract prohibited.
Where any statute or contract requires an employer to maintain the designated
wage scale, it shall be unlawful to secretly pay a lower wage while purporting
to pay the wage designated by statute or by contract. [1957 c.243 §1]
     652.250
Public employeeÂ’s wages as affected by absence to engage in search or rescue
operation. A public employee who takes part without pay in a search or
rescue operation at the request of any law enforcement agency, the Department
of Transportation, the United States Forest Service or any local organization
for civil defense, shall not forfeit wages while engaged in an operation for a
period of not more than five days for each operation. If an operation continues
for more than five days, the employing agency may allow the employee to
continue to take part in the operation and to receive wages for as long as the
employing agency considers proper. [1959 c.46 §1]
ENFORCEMENT OF WAGE CLAIMS
(Generally)
     652.310
Definitions of employer and employee. As used in ORS 652.310 to 652.414,
unless the context requires otherwise:
     (1) “Employer” means any person who in this state, directly or through an agent, engages personal services of one or more employees and includes any successor to the business of any employer, or any lessee or purchaser of any employer’s business property for the continuance of the same business, so far as such employer has not paid employees in full. “Employer” includes the State of Oregon or any political subdivision thereof or any county, city, district, authority, public corporation or entity and any of their instrumentalities organized and existing under law or charter but does not include:
     (a) The United States.
     (b) Trustees and assignees in bankruptcy or insolvency, and receivers, whether appointed by federal or state courts, and persons otherwise falling under the definition of employers so far as the times or amounts of their payments to employees are regulated by laws of the United States, or regulations or orders made in pursuance thereof.
     (2) “Employee” means any individual who otherwise than as copartner of the employer or as an independent contractor renders personal services wholly or partly in this state to an employer who pays or agrees to pay such individual at a fixed rate, based on the time spent in the performance of such services or on the number of operations accomplished, or quantity produced or handled. However:
     (a) Where services are rendered by an independent contractor, an individual shall not be an employee under this section unless the individual is a musician or supporting technical person.
     (b) Where services are rendered only partly in this state, an individual shall not be an employee under this section unless the contract of employment of the employee has been entered into, or payments thereunder are ordinarily made or to be made, within this state. [Amended by 1963 c.348 §1; 1975 c.488 §1; 1985 c.100 §2; 2001 c.7 §1]
     652.320
Definitions for ORS 652.310 to 652.414. As used in ORS 652.310 to 652.414,
unless the context requires otherwise:
     (1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries.
     (2) “Court” means a court of competent jurisdiction and proper venue to entertain a proceeding referred to in ORS 652.310 to 652.414.
     (3) “Demand” means a written demand for payment made during business hours on an employer or any appropriate representative of an employer by an employee or by some person having and exhibiting due authority to act in said employee’s behalf.
     (4) “Pay” means to deliver or tender compensation at a previously designated and reasonably convenient place in this state, during working hours, in legal tender or by order or negotiable instrument payable and paid in legal tender without discount on demand in this state or by deposit without discount in an employee’s account in a financial institution, as defined in ORS 706.008, in this state, provided the employee and the employer have agreed to such deposit.
     (5) “Payment” means the delivery, tender or deposit of compensation in the medium of payment described in subsection (4) of this section. Such delivery, tender or deposit shall be made to or for the account of the employee concerned or to or for the account of any person having due authority to act in said employee’s behalf.
     (6) “Rate of payment” means the rate at which payment is made or is to be made in the manner described in this section.
     (7) “Wage claim” means an employee’s claim against an employer for compensation for the employee’s own personal services, and includes any wages, compensation, damages or civil penalties provided by law to employees in connection with a claim for unpaid wages. [Amended by 1975 c.190 §1; 1975 c.488 §2; 1979 c.695 §1; 1999 c.59 §193; 1999 c.351 §39; 2001 c.7 §2]
     652.325
[1975 c.488 §4; 1991 c.331 §94; repealed by 1999 c.69 §1]
     652.330
Powers and duties of commissioner in enforcing wage claims; parties to wage
claim action. (1) The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries
shall enforce ORS 652.310 to 652.414 and to that end may:
     (a) Investigate and attempt equitably to adjust controversies between employers and employees in respect of wage claims or alleged wage claims.
     (b) Take assignments, in trust, of wage claims or judgments thereon, liens and other instruments of security for payment of wages from the assigning employees, spouses, parents or legal guardians, having a right to the wages of such employees. All such assignments shall run to the commissioner and any successors in office. The commissioner may sue employers on wage claims and other persons or property liable for any payment thereof thus assigned with the benefits and subject to existing laws applying to actions by employees for collection of wages. The commissioner is entitled to recover, in addition to costs, such sum as the court or judge may adjudge reasonable as attorney fees at trial and on appeal. The commissioner may join in a single proceeding and in one cause of action any number of wage claims against the same employer. If the commissioner does not prevail in such action, the commissioner shall pay all costs and disbursements from the Bureau of Labor and Industries Account.
     (c) Make complaint in a criminal court for any violation of any law providing for payment of wages and imposing a penalty for its violation as for a crime.
     (d) In any case where a civil action may be brought under this chapter for the collection of a wage claim, provide for an administrative proceeding to determine the validity and enforce collection of the claim. The administrative proceeding shall be conducted as provided in this chapter, and is subject to the employer’s right to elect a trial in a court of law.
     (2) An assigning wage claimant shall not be regarded as a party to any court action brought by the commissioner under this section for any purpose. [Amended by 1957 c.465 §6; 1963 c.258 §2; 1967 c.218 §1; 1979 c.695 §2; 1981 c.897 §88]
     652.332
Administrative proceeding for wage claim collection; court enforcement and
review; rules. (1) In any case when the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor
and Industries has received a wage claim complaint which the commissioner could
seek to collect through court action, the commissioner may instead elect to
seek collection of such claim through administrative proceedings in the manner
provided in this section, subject to the employerÂ’s right to request a trial in
a court of law. The commissioner may join in a single administrative proceeding
any number of wage claims against the same employer. Upon making such election,
the commissioner shall serve upon the employer and the wage claimant an order
of determination directing the employer to pay to the commissioner the amount
of the wage claim and any penalty amounts under ORS 279C.855 (1), 652.150 and
653.055 (1) determined to be owed the wage claimant. Service shall be made in
the same manner as service of summons or by certified mail, return receipt
requested. The order of determination shall include:
     (a) A reference to the particular sections of the statutes or rules involved;
     (b) A short and concise statement of the basis for the amounts determined to be owed to each wage claimant;
     (c) A statement of the party’s right to request a contested case hearing and to be represented by counsel at such a hearing, and of the employer’s right to a trial in a court of law, provided that any request for a contested case hearing or trial in a court of law must be received by the commissioner in writing within 20 days after receipt by the party of the order of determination;
     (d) A statement that the employer must, within 20 days after receipt of the order of determination, either pay in full the wage claim and any penalties assessed, or present to the commissioner a written request for a contested case hearing or a trial in a court of law as provided in this section;
     (e) A statement that failure to make a written request to the commissioner for a contested case hearing or a trial of the claim in a court of law within the time specified shall constitute a waiver of the right thereto and a waiver of the right to a trial by jury; and
     (f) A statement that unless the written requests provided for in subsection (1)(c) of this section are received by the commissioner within the time specified for making such requests, the order of determination shall become final.
     (2) Upon failure of the employer to pay the amount specified in the order of determination or to request a trial in a court of law within the time specified, and upon failure of any party to request a contested case hearing within the time specified, the order of determination shall become final.
     (3) If a party makes a timely request for a contested case hearing, a hearing shall be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of ORS 183.415 to 183.500 by the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee. The commissioner shall adopt rules for such hearing. In any hearing before the commissioner’s designee, the designee is authorized to issue the final order in the case. If the employer makes a timely request for a trial in a court of law, the commissioner may proceed against the employer as provided in ORS 652.330 (1)(b).
     (4) Final administrative orders issued in a wage claim proceeding are subject to review by the Court of Appeals as provided in ORS 183.480 and 183.482.
     (5) When an order issued under this section becomes final, it may be recorded in the County Clerk Lien Record in any county of this state. In addition to any other remedy provided by law, recording an order in the County Clerk Lien Record pursuant to the provisions of this section has the effect provided for in ORS 205.125 and 205.126, and the order may be enforced as provided in ORS 205.125 and 205.126.
     (6) Where the wage claim arose out of work performed by the claimant for the employer on any public works project to which ORS 279C.830 or 279C.840 applies, and a state agency holds sufficient funds as retainage on such project to pay such claim or any portion thereof, the state agency may, at the request of the commissioner, pay to the commissioner from the retainage all or part of the amount due on the claim under the final order. [1979 c.695 §4; 1981 c.594 §3; 1989 c.706 §19; 1995 c.82 §1; 1997 c.387 §6; 2003 c.794 §309]
     652.335
Liability of liquor dispenser licensee for wage claims of certain individuals.
(1) A person operating a commercial establishment where food is cooked and
served who holds a full on-premises sales license issued under ORS 471.175 is
liable for all valid wage claims of individuals employed in the kitchen
facilities and dining space of such establishment who are not employed by such
person, if the wage claims cannot be enforced against the employer of such
individuals. The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may in such
a case proceed under ORS 652.310 to 652.414 against the person operating the
establishment as if that person had employed the individuals assigning the wage
claims.
     (2) This section does not impose any liability not otherwise imposed by law for compensation for the performance of an individual’s personal services in excess of a period of 60 days, nor does it subject the person operating an establishment described in this section to criminal penalties for violation of any law providing for payment of wages. [1961 c.475 §2; 1999 c.351 §40]
     652.340
Requiring bond of employer. (1) If upon investigation by the Commissioner
of the Bureau of Labor and Industries, after taking assignments of any wage
claims under ORS 652.330, it appears to the commissioner that the employer is
representing to employees that the employer is able to pay wages for their
services and that the employees are not being paid for their services, the
commissioner may require the employer to give a bond in such sum as the
commissioner deems reasonable and adequate in the circumstances, with
sufficient surety, conditioned that the employer will for a definite future
period not exceeding six months conduct business and pay employees in
accordance with the laws of Oregon.
     (2) If within 10 days after demand for such bond the employer fails to provide the same, the commissioner may commence a suit against the employer in the circuit court of appropriate jurisdiction to compel the employer to furnish such bond or cease doing business until the employer has done so. The employer shall have the burden of proving the amount thereof to be excessive.
     (3) If the court finds that there is just cause for requiring such bond and that the same is reasonably necessary or appropriate to secure the prompt payment of the wages of the employees of such employer and the employer’s compliance with ORS 652.310 to 652.414, the court shall enjoin such employer from doing business in this state until the requirement is met, or shall make other, and may make further, orders appropriate to compel compliance with the requirement. [Amended by 1975 c.488 §5; 1991 c.331 §95; 1997 c.631 §515; 1999 c.69 §2]
     652.350
[Repealed by 1979 c.695 §7]
     652.355
Prohibition of discrimination because of wage claim; remedy. (1) No employer
shall discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any employee
because:
     (a) The employee has made a wage claim or discussed, inquired about or consulted an attorney or agency about a wage claim.
     (b) The employee has caused to be instituted any proceedings under or related to ORS 652.310 to 652.414.
     (c) The employee has testified or is about to testify in any such proceedings.
     (2) Any person who discharges or discriminates against an employee in violation of subsection (1) of this section shall be liable to the employee discharged or discriminated against for actual damages or $200, whichever is greater. In any action under this subsection, the court may award to the prevailing party, in addition to costs and disbursements, reasonable attorney fees. [1975 c.397 §2; 1980 c.1 §1]
     652.360
Contract exempting employer from liability or penalty not valid; exceptions.
(1) An employer may not by special contract or any other means exempt the
employer from any provision of or liability or penalty imposed by ORS 652.310
to 652.414 or any statute relating to the payment of wages, except insofar as
the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries in writing approves a
special contract or other arrangement between the employer and one or more of
the employerÂ’s employees. The commissioner may not give approval unless the
commissioner finds that such contract or arrangement will not prejudicially
affect the interest of the public or of the employees involved, and the
commissioner may at any time retract such approval, first giving the employer
not less than 30 daysÂ’ notice in writing.
     (2) A settlement between an employer and an employee of a known and identified claim arising under ORS 652.310 to 652.414 or any statute relating to the payment of wages does not require the commissioner’s approval if the settlement does not provide for the employee to relinquish a claim for additional or future violations. [Amended by 2001 c.116 §1]
     652.370
Jurisdiction of courts; proceedings in name of state. (1) Justice courts
shall have concurrent jurisdiction with circuit courts over all cases mentioned
in ORS 652.330 or 652.340.
     (2) The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries shall prosecute all legal proceedings on the commissioner’s own official relation, but in the name of the State of Oregon.
     652.380
Remedies cumulative; effect of payment or tender by employer after proceeding
commenced. (1) The remedies provided by ORS 652.310 to 652.414 shall be
additional to and not in substitution for and in no manner impair other
remedies and may be enforced simultaneously or consecutively so far as not
inconsistent with each other.
     (2) No payment or tender after the filing of a criminal complaint or commencement of any proceeding by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries shall affect the liability therein of an employer for expenses, or prevent such employer from being subject to fine or forfeitures, or to the giving of bond under ORS 652.340.
     652.390
Deduction of costs from wage claims; collection fees; assignment of wage
claims. (1) The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may
deduct and retain any moneys collected on each wage claim as costs, attorney
fees or commissionerÂ’s penalties. The amount deducted shall be paid into the
General Fund after deducting actual costs and disbursements incurred in the
prosecution thereof.
     (2) The commissioner may charge a claimant on a wage claim for which the commissioner has obtained a judgment the actual collection fees charged to the Bureau of Labor and Industries by any other governmental agency assisting in the collection of the judgment.
     (3) The commissioner is authorized to assign wage claim judgments and orders issued pursuant to ORS 652.332 for collection or to obtain assistance in collection of such judgments and orders and may deduct and pay out from any moneys so collected a collection fee. [Amended by 1957 c.465 §7; 1967 c.218 §2; 1983 c.427 §1; 1995 c.82 §2; 2003 c.14 §394]
     652.400
Deposit of moneys in Wage Collection Account; payment to persons entitled
thereto. Subject to ORS 652.390, all moneys collected on judgments pursuant
to ORS 652.330, or as a result of administrative proceedings pursuant to ORS
652.332, including fines, shall be paid to the Commissioner of the Bureau of
Labor and Industries and, together with all other sums collected under ORS
652.310 to 652.414, be deposited in the State Treasury to become part of a
special trust account to be known as the Wage Collection Account, which account
is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General
Fund. Interest earned by the account shall be credited to the account. All
moneys in the Wage Collection Account are appropriated continuously for the
purpose of payment to the persons entitled thereto. [Amended by 1957 c.465 §8;
1979 c.695 §5; 1989 c.966 §65]
     652.405
Disposition of wages collected by commissioner when payment cannot be made to
person entitled thereto. (1) The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and
Industries shall attempt for a period of not less than seven years to make
payment of wages collected under ORS 652.310 to 652.414 to the person entitled
thereto.
     (2) Wages collected by the commissioner under ORS 652.310 to 652.414 and remaining unclaimed for a period of more than seven years from the date of collection shall, within 30 days after June 30 of each year, be forfeited to the state and shall be paid by the commissioner to the Department of State Lands for the benefit of the Common School Fund of this state. The department shall issue a receipt for the money to the commissioner. The person entitled to the wages or the person’s heirs or personal representatives may reclaim the wages paid into the Common School Fund pursuant to this section within the time and in the manner provided for estates which have escheated to the state. [1957 c.465 §15]
(Wage Security Fund)
     652.409
Wage Security Fund; use. (1) The Wage Security Fund is established separate
and distinct from the General Fund. After deduction of the amounts provided in
ORS 657.439, all moneys received by the Employment Department pursuant to ORS
657.439 shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the Wage Security
Fund. All income earned on moneys in the Wage Security Fund invested by the
State Treasurer shall accrue to the fund.
     (2) All income earned on moneys in the Wage Security Fund, and all other moneys in the fund, are appropriated continuously to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries to carry out the provisions of ORS 652.414. [1985 c.409 §4; 1987 c.412 §3; 1989 c.248 §1; 1989 c.554 §2]
     Note:
The amendments to 652.409 by section 9, chapter 183, Oregon Laws 2005, apply to
unemployment insurance tax reporting periods beginning on or after January 1,
2007. See section 10, chapter 183, Oregon Laws 2005. The text that applies to
reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2007, is set forth for the
userÂ’s convenience.
     652.409.
(1) The Wage Security Fund is established separate and distinct from the
General Fund. After deduction of the amounts provided in ORS 657.439 (2)(a),
all moneys received by the Employment Department pursuant to ORS 657.439 (2)(a)
shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the Wage Security Fund.
All income earned on moneys in the Wage Security Fund invested by the State
Treasurer shall accrue to the fund.
     (2) All income earned on moneys in the Wage Security Fund, and all other moneys in the fund, are appropriated continuously to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries to carry out the provisions of ORS 652.414.
     652.410
[Repealed by 1977 c.618 §2]
     652.414
Procedure for payment from fund; lien against personal property of employer;
penalties; rules. Notwithstanding any other provision of law:
     (1) When an employee files a wage claim under this chapter for wages earned and unpaid, and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries determines that the employer against whom the claim was filed has ceased doing business and is without sufficient assets to pay the wage claim and the wage claim cannot otherwise be fully and promptly paid, the commissioner, after determining that the claim is valid, shall pay the claimant, to the extent provided in subsection (2) of this section:
     (a) The unpaid amount of wages earned within 60 days before the date of the cessation of business; or
     (b) If the claimant filed a wage claim before the cessation of business, the unpaid amount of wages earned within 60 days before the last day the claimant was employed.
     (2) The commissioner shall pay the unpaid amount of wages earned as provided in subsection (1) of this section only to the extent of $4,000 from such funds as may be available pursuant to ORS 652.409 (2).
     (3) The commissioner may commence an appropriate action, suit or proceeding to recover from the employer, or other persons or property liable for the unpaid wages, amounts paid from the Wage Security Fund under subsection (1) of this section. In addition to costs and disbursements, the commissioner is entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees at trial and on appeal, together with a penalty of 25 percent of the amount of wages paid from the Wage Security Fund or $200, whichever amount is the greater. All amounts recovered by the commissioner under this subsection and subsection (4) of this section are appropriated continuously to the commissioner to carry out the provisions of this section.
     (4) The commissioner has a lien on the personal property of the employer for the benefit of the fund when the claim is paid under subsection (1) of this section for the amount so paid and the penalty referred to in subsection (3) of this section. The commissioner may cause to be filed a verified written notice of claim of lien with the recording officer of the county in which the employer has its principal place of business no later than 30 days after the date the claim was paid under subsection (1) of this section. The notice of claim of lien shall contain:
     (a) A true statement of the sums paid to wage claimants and the amount of the penalty provided for in subsection (3) of this section;
     (b) The name of the owner of the personal property to be charged with the lien;
     (c) A description of the personal property to be charged with the lien sufficient for identification. If a lien is being claimed against all personal property of the employer, the description is sufficient if it states that all personal property of the employer is covered; and
     (d) The date the wage claim was paid.
     (5) Liens created by subsection (4) of this section shall be recorded in the same manner as provided for in ORS 87.246 and may be foreclosed in the manner provided for in ORS 87.262.
     (6) Liens created by subsection (4) of this section shall have priority over any other liens or security interests perfected after the date the notice of claim is filed with the county recording officer under subsections (4) and (5) of this section.
     (7) The commissioner shall promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of this section that include, but are not limited to, prescribing procedures for a timely and cost efficient method for the payment of wage claims from the Wage Security Fund and procedures for prorating wage claims if insufficient funds are available for payment.
     (8) Nothing in this section is intended to require the commissioner to pay wage claims for which moneys are not available under ORS 652.409 (2). [1985 c.409 §7; 1987 c.412 §1; 1989 c.554 §3; 1999 c.374 §1]
(Reciprocal Enforcement of Wage Claims)
     652.420
Definitions for ORS 652.420 to 652.445. (1) As used in ORS 652.420 to
652.445:
     (a) “Labor bureau” includes any agency, bureau, commission, board or officer in another state which performs functions substantially corresponding to those of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries.
     (b) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries.
     (2) The definitions of ORS 652.310 and 652.320 shall apply to ORS 652.420 to 652.445, but nothing contained in those sections shall be construed to preclude reciprocal enforcement of wage claims under ORS 652.420 to 652.445, where the services of the employee were rendered in another state. [1953 c.256 §1; 1987 c.158 §125]
     652.425
Authority of commissioner to enter into agreements with other states for
reciprocal enforcement of wage claims. The Commissioner of the Bureau of
Labor and Industries may enter into agreements with the corresponding labor
bureau of another state for the reciprocal enforcement and collection of wage
claims, if the other state has a reciprocal statute similar to ORS 652.420 to
652.445 or otherwise authorizes the reciprocal enforcement and collection of
wage claims in a manner substantially similar to ORS 652.420 to 652.445. [1953
c.256 §2]
     652.430
Assigning wage claim to labor bureau of another state. Whenever a wage
claim is assigned to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries in
trust pursuant to ORS 652.330 and the employer or former employer upon whom
demand for payment is made by an employee in this state has removed to another
state, the commissioner may reassign the wage claim, with the approval of the
employee, to the labor bureau of the other state, if there is in effect at the
time a valid reciprocal agreement under ORS 652.425 between the commissioner
and the other state. [1953 c.256 §3]
     652.435
Accepting assignments of wage claims from labor bureau of another state.
Whenever a labor bureau in another state, which has entered into a reciprocal
agreement under ORS 652.425 with the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and
Industries and the agreement is in effect at the time, takes an assignment of a
wage claim from an employee residing in the other state for services rendered
in the other state to an employer or former employer who has removed to Oregon,
the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may take an assignment
of the wage claim from such labor bureau and enforce the collection thereof as
provided in the applicable provisions of ORS 652.310 to 652.414. [1953 c.256
§4; 2003 c.14 §395]
     652.440
Retention by commissioner or labor bureau of percentage of funds collected.
Any agreement concluded by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and
Industries shall make provision for the transfer of funds collected pursuant to
ORS 652.420 to 652.445 and for retention by the commissioner or the labor
bureau in the other state of percentile amounts from the sums collected to
defray the administrative costs of ORS 652.420 to 652.445. Amounts authorized
pursuant to this section to be used to defray the administrative costs of ORS
652.420 to 652.445 shall be credited to the Bureau of Labor and Industries
Account and shall be used only for the administration of ORS 652.420 to
652.445. [1953 c.256 §5; 1957 c.465 §9]
     652.445
Deposit of moneys in Wage Collection Account. Except as provided in ORS
652.440, all moneys collected pursuant to ORS 652.420 to 652.445, including
fines and costs, shall be paid to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and
Industries and be deposited in the State Treasury in the Wage Collection Account
established by ORS 652.400. [1953 c.256 §6; 1957 c.465 §10]
PRIORITY OF WAGE CLAIMS
     652.500
Receiver to pay accrued wages; payment of employees; receiverÂ’s certificates.
Whenever the business or property of any person, company or corporation in this
state shall be placed by any court in this state in the hands of a receiver,
whether upon foreclosure or creditorÂ’s bill, the receiver shall report
immediately to the court appointing the receiver the amount due by the person,
company or corporation, at the date of the receiverÂ’s appointment, to employees
and laborers of the person, company or corporation. The court shall order the
receiver to pay out of the first receipts and earnings of such person, company
or corporation, after paying current operating expenses under the
administration of the receiver, the wages of all employees and laborers that
had accrued within six months prior to the appointment of the receiver. The
court also shall order the receiver to pay the wages of all employees and
laborers employed by the receiver, at least once every 30 days, out of the
first receipts and earnings of the person, company or corporation while under
the management of the receiver. However, should the receiver not take in
sufficient money from receipts and earnings to pay the employees and laborers
at least once every 30 days, the receiver shall issue and deliver to each of
the employees and laborers, upon demand, a receiverÂ’s certificate, showing the
amount due the employee or laborer in money, which certificate will draw
interest at the rate of eight percent per annum from the date of issuance until
paid. The receiver shall thereafter pay such certificates, in the order of
their issuance, out of the first money coming into the receiverÂ’s hands from
the receipts and earnings of the properties under the charge of the receiver.
[Formerly 31.050; 2003 c.14 §396]
     Note:
652.500 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to
or made a part of ORS chapter 652 or any series therein by legislative action.
See the Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
     652.510
Payment of wage claims by receivers, assignees or court; filing statement of
wages due. (1) When the property of any company, cooperative association,
corporation, firm or person is seized upon by any process of any court of this
state, or when the business or property is placed in the hands of a receiver,
or whenever any assignment for the benefit of creditors under the laws of this
state is made, then in all such cases the debts owing to laborers or employees,
which have accrued by reason of their labor or employment to an amount not
exceeding $2,000 to each employee for work or labor performed within 90 days
next preceding the seizure or transfer or assignment of such property, or
appointment of said receiver shall be considered and treated as preferred
debts, and such laborers or employees shall be preferred creditors, and shall
first be paid in full, and if there is not sufficient to pay them in full,
their claims shall be paid pro rata, after paying costs.
     (2) Any such laborer or employee desiring to enforce the claim of the laborer or employee for wages under ORS 652.510 to 652.570 shall present a statement under oath showing the amount due after allowing all just credits and setoffs, the kind of work for which said wages are due and when performed, to the officer or person charged with the execution of said process, within 30 days after the seizure thereof on any execution or writ of attachment, or to such receiver or assignee within 45 days after the same may have been placed in the hands of any such assignee or receiver. [Amended by 1977 c.288 §1; 1981 c.594 §4; 1987 c.412 §2; 2003 c.14 §397]
     652.520
Form of statement of wage claim. The statement to be presented under ORS
652.510 shall be substantially in the following form:
______________________________________________________________________________
State of Oregon         )
                                   )          ss.
County of_____,        )
     I, _____, being first duly sworn, say that _____ is indebted to me in the sum of ___ dollars over and above all just credits and setoffs, on account of work, services and labor performed by me for the said_____, upon the following terms and conditions, to wit: That I was employed by the said _____ on or about the ___ day of_____, 2__, to work (here describe character of work) at the rate of ___ dollars per month (or for a reasonable consideration for such work), and that under said contract I began to work on the ___ day of_____, 2__, and between that day and the ___ day of______, 2__, I performed work, services and labor ___ days, amounting to the sum of ___ dollars (or the reasonable value of ___ dollars); that the said _____ has paid me on account of the said labor the sum of ___ dollars, and no more; and that there is now due me, the sum of ___ dollars, over and above all just credits and offsets; and that during the 90 days next preceding the ___ day of_____, 2__, I had performed ___ days’ labor under said contract, amounting to the sum of ___ dollars (or that said services were reasonably worth the sum of ___ dollars); and that, applying all the credits above stated, there is due me from the said______, on account of labor for the said 90 days, the sum of ___ dollars, and no more; claim as due me.
     Subscribed and sworn to before me this ___ day of_____, 2__.
______________________________________________________________________________
     652.530 Serving copy of
statement; report to court; order of payment. (1) The person claiming the
benefit of ORS 652.510 to 652.570 shall serve upon the debtor, or upon the
officer, assignee or receiver for the debtor where personal service cannot be
had, a copy of the verified claim. Thereafter the person receiving such
statement shall report the amount of such claim to the court having
jurisdiction of such officer, receiver or assignee, together with a statement
of all costs occasioned by the seizure of said property or of such receivership
or assignment.
     (2) The court shall order such claims to be paid after payment of the costs and expenses of such seizure and sale, and the costs and disbursements which have accrued before the filing of the notice under ORS 652.510 and of assignment or receivership, out of the proceeds of the sale of the property so seized, assigned, or placed in the hands of an assignee or receiver.
     652.540 Exception to claim;
legal action on claim. (1) Any person interested may contest all or any
part of a claim mentioned in ORS 652.530, by filing in said court exceptions
thereto, supported by affidavit, within 10 days from the filing of the report
provided in ORS 652.530. Thereupon the claimant shall be required to establish
the claim, by judgment in such court, before any part thereof shall be paid.
     (2) When any claim is excepted to as provided in this section, the person desiring to establish the same shall file in said court, within 30 days after the claim is excepted to, a verified complaint as in an action at law and serve it upon the person excepting, or the person’s attorney of record, and upon the principal debtor for the claim, or the principal debtor’s attorney of record.
     (3) Thereafter the cause shall proceed to final judgment between the parties as an action at law.
     652.550 Payment of claims
prerequisite to discharge of attachment or execution, assignee or receiver, or
to abandonment of seizure or sale. No attachment or execution shall be
discharged nor shall the seizure or sale of property seized be abandoned, or
assignee or receiver discharged, until every claimant presenting a claim under
ORS 652.510 to 652.570 has been paid in full, or pro rata, as provided in ORS
652.510, or has consented to such discharge or abandonment.
     652.560 Costs and attorney
fees. Whenever any claim has been excepted to under ORS 652.540 and the
claim is established by judgment and the court rendering the judgment is
satisfied that the exceptions were made without probable cause or that the
person so excepting could have ascertained with reasonable diligence that such
claim was true and just, the claimant in such action shall be entitled to have
the costs of such action, and such sum as the court may adjudge reasonable as
attorney fees at trial and on appeal, enforced by execution against the person
objecting as a judgment debtor in the first instance. However, if the court
does not so find, or if execution, when issued, is returned nulla bona, then in
either case such costs and attorney fees shall be ordered paid out of the
proceeds of the property sold next after the payment of all claims presented
under ORS 652.510 to 652.570. [Amended by 1981 c.897 §89]
     652.570 Priority of wage
claims over transfers in payment of preexisting obligations; payment and
subrogation of transferee. (1) Every sale or transfer of any property in
payment of any preexisting debt, or obligation, and every mortgage or lien
created or executed to secure the payment of a preexisting debt, shall be void
as against laborers or employees of such vendor, mortgagor, or other lien
debtor, to the extent of their claims for wages, in the amount of $2,000, or 30
days of wages, whichever amount is the greater, to each of said laborers which
may be owing for work or labor performed within 90 days next preceding such
sale and transfer or the execution of such lien or mortgage, if the laborer or
employee claiming the benefit of this section:
     (a) Within 10 days after the actual delivery of the property or within 30 days after the recording of any such deed, transfer, mortgage or lien, gives such owner or holder of such lien or such vendee notice of the claim of the laborer or employee substantially in the form and verified as provided in ORS 652.520, which notice shall be served by delivering it or a copy thereof to such owner or holder of such lien or such vendee in person or, in case the owner, holder or vendee cannot be found within the county in which such lien or deed may be of record after diligent inquiry, by delivering the notice or a copy thereof to the clerk of the county court for such owner or holder of such lien or such vendee; and
     (b) Within 30 days after the notice of claim is served commences court action to pursue the claim.
     (2) The vendee or mortgage or lienholder, or an assignee, may pay such claim and thereby be subrogated to the rights and lien of such laborer or employee, as against the vendor, principal debtor or mortgagor, and as against subsequent mortgagees or other subsequent lien creditors.
     (3) This section does not apply to any mortgage or lien given in renewal of a preexisting mortgage or lien. [Amended by 1977 c.288 §2; 1989 c.651 §1]
     652.580 [Repealed by
1981 c.898 §53]
STATEMENTS RELATING TO EMPLOYEEÂ’S SALARY AND DEDUCTIONS THEREFROM
(Generally)
     652.610 Itemized statement
of amounts and purposes of deductions required. (1) All persons, firms,
partnerships, associations, cooperative associations, corporations, municipal
corporations, the state and its political subdivisions, except the federal
government and its agencies, employing, in this state, during any calendar month
one or more persons, and withholding for any purpose, any sum of money from the
wages, salary or commission earned by an employee, shall provide such employee
on regular paydays with a statement sufficiently itemized to show the amount
and purpose of such deductions made during the respective period of service
which said payment covers.
     (2) The itemized statement shall be furnished to the employee at the time payment of wages, salary or commission is made, and may be attached to or be a part of the check, draft, voucher or other instrument by which payment is made, or may be delivered separately from such instrument.
     (3) No employer may withhold, deduct or divert any portion of an employee’s wages unless:
     (a) The employer is required to do so by law;
     (b) The deductions are authorized in writing by the employee, are for the employee’s benefit, and are recorded in the employer’s books;
     (c) The employee has voluntarily signed an authorization for a deduction for any other item, provided that the ultimate recipient of the money withheld is not the employer, and that such deduction is recorded in the employer’s books;
     (d) The deduction is authorized by a collective bargaining agreement to which the employer is a party;
     (e) The deduction is authorized under ORS 18.736; or
     (f) The deduction is made from the payment of wages upon termination of employment and is authorized pursuant to a written agreement between the employee and employer for the repayment of a loan made to the employee by the employer, if all of the following conditions are met:
     (A) The employee has voluntarily signed the agreement;
     (B) The loan was paid to the employee in cash or other medium permitted by ORS 652.110;
     (C) The loan was made solely for the employee’s benefit and was not used, either directly or indirectly, for any purpose required by the employer or connected with the employee’s employment with the employer;
     (D) The amount of the deduction at termination of employment does not exceed the amount permitted to be garnished under ORS 18.385; and
     (E) The deduction is recorded in the employer’s books.
     (4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the withholding of amounts authorized in writing by the employee to be contributed by the employee to charitable organizations, including contributions made pursuant to ORS 243.666 and 663.110; nor shall this section prohibit deductions by check-off dues to labor organizations or service fees, where such is not otherwise prohibited by law; nor shall this section diminish or enlarge the right of any person to assert and enforce a lawful setoff or counterclaim or to attach, take, reach or apply an employee’s compensation on due legal process. [Amended by 1977 c.618 §1; 1980 s.s. c.1 §2; 1981 c.594 §5; 1995 c.753 §2; 2001 c.249 §78; 2003 c.779 §5]
     652.615 Remedy for violation
of ORS 652.610. There is hereby created a private cause of action for a
violation of ORS 652.610 (3) for actual damages or $200, whichever is greater.
In any such action the court may award to the prevailing party, in addition to
costs and disbursements, reasonable attorney fees. [1981 c.594 §7]
     652.620 Statement of yearly
compensation on request of employee. All persons, firms, partnerships,
associations, cooperative associations, corporations, municipal corporations,
the state and its political subdivisions thereof, except the federal government
and its agencies employing, in this state, five or more persons, during any
calendar month, upon the request of any employee or former employee, and upon
five daysÂ’ notice to said employer shall give to such employee, not later than
March 10 of each year, a statement showing the total compensation paid by such
employer to such employee, or former employee, during the previous calendar
year.
(Agricultural Workers)
     652.630 Definitions for ORS
652.630 to 652.640. As used in ORS 652.630 to 652.640, unless the context
requires otherwise:
     (1) “Bonus” means an increase in the agreed rate of compensation based on the amount of time worked during a perishable agricultural product season or based on the amount of a perishable agricultural product that is harvested.
     (2) “Labor contractor” means a farm labor contractor as defined in ORS 658.405.
     (3) “Producer” means a person who raises perishable agricultural products. [1969 c.572 §1]
     Note: 652.630 to 652.640
were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but were not added to or made
a part of ORS chapter 652 by legislative action. See the Preface to Oregon
Revised Statutes for further explanation.
     652.635 Producers to post
certain terms of employment. Every producer, or agent of the producer, who
employs a labor contractor to provide a working crew for harvesting perishable
agricultural products or who offers a bonus to those persons who harvest
perishable agricultural products shall cause to be conspicuously posted and
maintained on the premises where the agricultural products are to be harvested
a notice that states:
     (1) A description of the terms and conditions of any bonus offered, including the manner of determining when the bonus is earned.
     (2) That portion of the labor contractor’s compensation that is based on the amount of work done by each employee of the labor contractor. [1969 c.572 §2]
     Note: See note under
652.630.
     652.640 Itemized statement
of compensation and deductions required. Each time a person who harvests
perishable agricultural products receives compensation payments at a regular
pay period or upon termination of employment, the producer, or agent of the
producer, or, if the person is an employee of a labor contractor, the labor
contractor shall furnish to such person a written statement itemizing the total
payment and each deduction therefrom. [1969 c.572 §3]
     Note: See note under
652.630.
FEES OR DEDUCTIONS FOR MEDICAL CARE
     652.710 Fees collected by
employer for medical care contracts are trust funds; priority on liquidation;
civil penalty; rules. (1) All moneys collected by an employer from
employees or retained from their wages for the purpose of providing for or
furnishing to such employees medical and surgical attention, hospital care,
X-rays, ambulance, nursing or any related service or care contingent upon
sickness or injury pursuant to a contract are trust funds and shall be placed
and kept in separate accounts by the employer and shall promptly be paid over
to the contractor. Such funds shall in no event become a part of the assets of
the employer.
     (2) If the employer fails to place and keep such funds in separate accounts and pay them over to the contractor or if the funds become commingled with the funds of the employer and the employer becomes bankrupt, insolvent or goes through voluntary or involuntary liquidation, or if a receiver is appointed to operate or liquidate the affairs of the employer, the funds not paid to the contractor shall be entitled to the same preference as given to claims of the State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation, as provided in ORS 656.562.
     (3) On and after July 1, 1992, when an employer that is a group health insurance policyholder subject to the provisions of ORS 743.560 receives notice that the group health insurance policy is terminated by the insurer and the employer does not replace coverage with any other group health insurance policy, the employer shall notify all employees who were covered under the terminated group policy. The employer’s notification to the employees shall:
     (a) Explain the employee’s rights regarding continuation or conversion of coverage under state and federal law; and
     (b) Be delivered to each employee in person or to the employee’s home address as recorded in the employer’s records not later than 10 working days after the receipt of notice from the insurer pursuant to ORS 743.560 (3) to (5).
     (4) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may assess a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each violation of subsection (1) or (3) of this section.
     (5) Civil penalties under this section shall be imposed as provided in ORS 183.745.
     (6) All sums collected as penalties pursuant to this section shall be first applied toward reimbursement of the costs incurred in determining the violations, conducting hearings under this section and assessing and collecting such penalties. The remainder, if any, of the sums collected as penalties pursuant to this section shall be paid over by the commissioner to the Department of State Lands for the benefit of the Common School Fund of this state. The department shall issue a receipt for the money to the commissioner.
     (7) The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may adopt rules reasonably necessary for the administration of this section. [Formerly 655.130; 1991 c.673 §1; 1991 c.734 §114; 2001 c.943 §15]
     652.720 Prohibited use by
employer of fees for medical care contracts withheld from employee wages.
(1) No employer shall retain, directly or indirectly, from employees or from
their wages any part of the money collected or retained under ORS 652.710 for
use or benefit of the employer.
     (2) No employer shall apply, directly or indirectly, any portion of the money so collected to the employer’s cost of compensation or to the cost of any medical, surgical or hospital care and attention for employees on account of injuries sustained by them in the course of their employment. [Formerly 655.110]
PERSONNEL RECORDS
     652.750 Inspection of
records by employee; furnishing copy to employee; disposition of record on
termination of employment; charge for copies. (1) As used in this section:
     (a) “Employer” has the meaning for that term provided in ORS 656.005.
     (b) “Personnel records” do not include records of an individual relating to the conviction, arrest or investigation of conduct constituting a violation of the criminal laws of this state or another state or the United States, confidential reports from previous employers or records maintained in compliance with ORS 351.065.
     (2) At the request of an employee, the employer shall provide reasonable opportunity for the employee to inspect, at the place of employment or place of work assignment, those personnel records of the employee which are used or have been used to determine the employee’s qualification for employment, promotion, additional compensation or employment termination or other disciplinary action. At the request of the employee, the employer shall furnish a certified copy of such records.
     (3) Upon termination of employment, the employer shall keep the terminated employee’s personnel records for not less than 60 days. At the request of the employee, within the 60-day period or at any time if the employer has retained the records at the time of the request, the employer shall furnish a certified copy of such records.
     (4) An employer may make only such charge for the services referred to in subsections (2) and (3) of this section as is reasonably calculated to recover the actual cost of providing the service. [1977 c.861 §2; 1985 c.404 §6]
PENALTIES
     652.900 Civil penalties.
(1) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, the Commissioner of the
Bureau of Labor and Industries may assess a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000
against any person who violates ORS 652.020, 652.140 or 652.145 or any rule
adopted pursuant thereto.
     (2) Civil penalties under this section shall be imposed as provided in ORS 183.745.
     (3) All penalties recovered under this section shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the General Fund and are available for general governmental expenses. [1989 c.852 §3; 1991 c.734 §59; 2001 c.690 §2]
     652.990 Criminal penalties.
(1) Violation of ORS 652.020 (2) is a Class A violation. Every dayÂ’s violation
is deemed a separate offense.
     (2) Any person, body corporate, general manager or employer who violates ORS 652.040 or causes ORS 652.040 to be violated is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not less than $50, nor more than $300, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 30 days, nor more than three months, or both.
     (3) Violation of ORS 652.110 or 652.120 is a Class A violation.
     (4) Violation of ORS 652.130 by any employer is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 60 days, or by both. Justice courts and circuit courts shall have concurrent jurisdiction in all cases arising under this subsection.
     (5) In addition to the civil damages recoverable under ORS 652.230, violation of ORS 652.210 to 652.230 is a misdemeanor.
     (6) The violation of ORS 652.240 is a misdemeanor.
     (7) Violation of ORS 652.355 is a Class C misdemeanor.
     (8) Violation of ORS 652.610 or 652.620 is a Class D violation.
     (9) Willful violation of ORS 652.635 or 652.640 by a producer or agent of the producer is a misdemeanor.
     (10) Violation of any of the provisions of ORS 652.710 or 652.720 by any employer is a Class A violation. [Subsection (5) enacted as 1955 c.193 §4; subsection (6) enacted as 1957 c.243 §2; subsection (9) formerly 655.990; subsection (8) enacted as 1969 c.572 §4; 1975 c.397 §5; 1999 c.1051 §215]
_______________
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Oregon may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.