Two Items for Your To Do List for the New Year: Leave Updates Effective January 1, 2014

We’re about 3 weeks away from the New Year. *(Yes, 3 weeks!)* Looking forward to the year ahead there are two important leave updates for human resources to have on their radar. Here’s a quick rundown – **Portland, Oregon Paid Sick Leave** **Effective Date: January 1, 2014** All private sector employers with employees working in Portland will have to provide sick leave for eligible employees. + Employers with 6 employees or more have to provide employees with one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours of work performed by the employee + Employers who have less than 6 employees have to provide one hour of unpaid sick leave for every 30 hours of work performed by the employee + Employees can only accrue up to 40 hours/year Accruals start on January 1, 2014 for current employees. For new hires after 1/1/2014, sick leave time accruals will begin on their date of hire. New hires are eligible once they have worked 240 hours and have been employed for at least 90 days. Mondaq has a good list of FAQs [here](http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/271834/employee+rights+labour+relations/Final+Regulations+Clarify+and+Expand+Portland+Sick+Leave+Law+Requirements). **California Emergency Responder Leave** **Effective Date: January 1, 2014** California’s Emergency Responder Leave is expands on January 1 to provide job protected leave to reserve peace officers, emergency rescue personnel and voluntary firefighters to attend emergency workers’ training for 14 days per calendar year. The previous leave protected volunteer fire fighters only. + This applies to employers with at least 50 employees **Action Items & Next Steps for HR** 1. Update leave policies, documentation and processes 2. Notify and train management on these updates 3. Make sure employees are in the loop  *Feeling overwhelmed? Sign up for a free trial of [LeaveXpert](https://www.leavexpert.com/) and start managing employee absence today.*