U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez on Wednesday wrapped up a national tour promoting key workplace initiatives with effusive praise for Oregon as a national leader in expanding paid leave.
At a roundtable discussion in Portland hosted by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., and attended by Gov. Kate Brown, Perez commended Oregon for passing a paid sick leave law this year and small business owners who've adopted family-friendly leave policies.
"I want to give a shout-out to Laughing Planet (Cafe) for the great work you do," he said, addressing owner Franz Spielvogel. "You've created a culture of inclusion, a culture that understands you do well by doing good and that it's in your enlightened self-interest to have paid leave policies."
Brown said Oregon historically has been a leader on work and family policies, passing a family and medical leave law that preceded the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and then expanding the federal law through the Oregon Family Leave Act in 1995.
This year, she noted, Oregon became the fourth state to pass a statewide sick days law, guaranteeing up to five days of paid leave for workers at companies with 10 or more employees. The new law takes effect January 1, 2016.
But paid sick leave, as a short-term benefit, doesn't address other longer-term needs, the governor said.
About 29 percent of Oregon's private sector workers don't qualify for unpaid, job-protected leave through the Oregon Family Leave Act because they don't work enough hours or haven't been on the job long enough, Brown said. Just 11 percent of workers nationally have access to paid family leave through their employer, she added.
As a next step, Brown said she is interested in creating a state-paid family and medical leave policy. Kristen Grainger, the governor's communications director, said discussions are just starting with business and labor groups and working-family advocates with a goal of bringing a bill to the 2017 legislative session.
The roundtable ended after an hour so Perez could tour Laughing Planet's offices, but not before the labor secretary offered a parting compliment to participants.
"As I listen to these testimonials, I can't help but feel pride in the work you've done."
-- George Rede
grede@oregonian.com
503-294-4004
@georgerede