PSU Human Resources

Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave

Program Summary

Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave (OR PFML), also known as Paid Leave Oregon (PLO), is designed to provide paid leave for employees experiencing specific life events such as serious health complications of themselves or family members, parental/maternity leave or Safe leave for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence harassment or stalking.

This benefit is funded by contributions of 0.6% from employees and 0.4% from PSU for a current total expense of 1% of subject salaries. PSU’s OR PFML program is administered by The Standard.

PLEASE NOTE: If you receive an incorrect notice from the Oregon Employment Department (OED) that a claim has been filed on your behalf, please contact them for additional information or to file a claim for ID theft. PSU claims are processed through The Standard, not OED.

Eligibility

Paid Leave with Job Protection - Effective 9/3/2023

  • Paid Leave: $1000 earned in the past 12 months
  • Job protection: Employed by PSU at least 90 days

Not available for: 

  • Work-Study Student Employees (non-work-study student employees are covered by this program)
  • Independent contractors
  • Volunteers
  • Employees with a primary work location outside of Oregon

Available for everyone else

Contributions

Regulatory Contribution Level = 1% of salary:

  • 60% employee-paid post-tax (0.6%)
  • 40% employer-paid post-tax (0.4%)

Contributions paid on salary up to $132,900*

* Starting in 2024, this limit will be indexed to the Social Security taxable maximum ($160,200 in 2023).

A flowchart showing the different options for Paid Leave on the left and Job Protection on the right
Benefit Amount
Annual SalaryWeekly SalaryOR PFML PaymentSalary Replacement
Up to $40,000Up to $769Up to $769100%
$50,000$962$89393%
$60,000$1,154$99087%
$70,000$1346$1,08681%
$80,000$1538$1,18277%
$90,000$1731$1,27874%
$100,000$1923$1,37471%
$110,000$2115$1,47070%
$120,000$2308$1,52466%
$160,000$3077$1,52450%
$200,000$3846$1,52440%
$300,000$5769$1,52426%
  • Leave accruals (sick and/or vacation) can be used to ‘top up’ pay to 100%.
  • Employees will be asked about this option during the protected leave process.
  • Health benefits continue during protected leave. For continuous leave, an employee’s contributions are deferred until they return. 

The maximum amount an employee will be paid is 120% of the state average weekly wage — the average amount employees throughout the state earn. The state average weekly wage in Oregon for 2023-24 is $1,269.69. Based on that, the minimum weekly benefit is $63.48 and the maximum weekly benefit is $1,523.63. The Oregon Employment Department updates the average weekly wage each July.

Definitions

"Benefit Year"

Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave requires a ‘rolling forward’ definition of leave year.

  1. Rolling forward means that a benefit year will start on the date of the first leave and covered leave that employees take for the next 12-months from that date will count towards their maximum allotment. Employee leave allotments will refresh entirely once 52-weeks have passed from the start date of the first leave in that 52-week period.
  2. PSU will conform OFLA & FMLA leave calculations to this rolling forward basis as much as possible.

"Family"

Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave has an inclusive definition of “family member.” A family member is any of the following:

  1. Your spouse or domestic partner
  2. Your child (biological, adopted, stepchild, or foster child), your spouse or domestic partner’s child, or the child’s spouse or domestic partner
  3. Your parent (biological, adoptive, stepparent, foster parent, or legal guardian), the parent of your spouse or domestic partner, or your parent’s spouse or domestic partner
  4. Your sibling or step sibling or their spouse or domestic partner
  5. Your grandparent or your grandparent’s spouse or domestic partner
  6. Your grandchild or your grandchild’s spouse or domestic partner
  7. Anyone you are related to by blood 
  8. Anyone who lives with or is connected to you like a family member and has a family relationship

"Serious Health Condition"

A serious health condition is an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that:

  • Requires inpatient care
  • Poses an imminent danger of death or possibility of death in the near future
  • Requires constant or continuing care
  • Involves a period of incapacity
  • Involves multiple treatments
  • Involves a period of disability due to pregnancy

Length and Reason

Paid benefits are available to eligible employees up to a combined 12-weeks per Benefit Year:

  • Family Leave
  • Medical Leave
  • Safe Leave

Up to an additional 2-weeks are available for limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition for total leave not to exceed 14-weeks per Benefit Year.

As of September 3, 2023

  1. OR PFML will run concurrently when possible with other protected leave programs such as OFLA and FMLA.
  2. The OR PFML period will apply even if employees do not apply for their benefit with The Standard.
  3. Employees will receive full protected leave allotments in OFLA/FMLA & OR PFML starting on September 3 - even if they used protected leave earlier in the year.

Family Leave

Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave makes sure people can access the time they need to take care of a family member.

Family leave is paid time off for any of the following:

  1. The birth of a child
  2. Bonding with a child in the first year:
    • After birth
    • Through adoption
    • When they are placed in your home through foster care
  3. To care for a family member with a serious health condition

Medical Leave

Medical leave is paid time off when you have a serious health condition.

A serious health condition is an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that:

  • Requires inpatient care
  • Poses an imminent danger of death or possibility of death in the near future
  • Requires constant or continuing care
  • Involves a period of incapacity
  • Involves multiple treatments
  • Involves a period of disability due to pregnancy

Safe Leave

Safe leave is paid time off for survivors of:

  • Sexual assault
  • Domestic violence
  • Harassment
  • Stalking
     

Request Process

Employees must complete the protected leaves notification form, informing PSU of the need for a protected leave as well as initiate a claim for the Standard.  Employees must communicate any changes to their anticipated or approved leave to both HR leaves leaves@pdx.edu and the Standard.

OR Paid Family Medical Leave

  • Basic information & locations of materials on the HR website.
  • PSU’s Leaves & Accommodations Team - Referrals to HR Subject Matter Experts for answers related to personal circumstances. Leaves@pdx.edu.
The Standard Logo

 

How to apply for OR PFML

  1. Employee notifies HR Leaves Team
    1. 30-day advance notice whenever possible, but as soon as possible. 
    2. Complete the Protected Leave Notification Form
    3. Leaves team will evaluate
    4. Employee & Supervisor will be notified
  2. Employee initiates the OR PFML payment process by calling The Standard (800.242.1888)
  3. HR works with The Standard to track leave availability & return to work criteria.

What happens when I call The Standard?

  1. The intake agent will spend 10-15 minutes setting up your case(s)
    1. Single point of contact
    2. Materials will be mailed (or emailed) to you
    3. The Standard will work to obtain medical documentation from your provider
    4. PFML / Short Term Disability (STD) will be processed at the same time, if applicable
  2. Intermittent Leave: You must notify The Standard of each absence (multiple absences can be reported at once up to 30-days ahead, if planned)
  3. PFML must be claimed in full day increments.
  4. Once your paperwork is complete, payments are made within 5 business days.

To view a list of FAQs answered by The Standard, click here.

Support and Resources

Leave Tips for Employees

  1. Do not discuss your personal medical or leave information with your supervisor.
  2. Review information on the HR website.
  3. Notify Leaves using the Protected Leave Request Form. 
  4. Initiate a claim for OR PFML benefits through the Standard.
  5. Watch for announcements or modifications about the PFML program.

Tips for Managing Leave

  1. Do not discuss your employee’s personal medical or leave information.
  2. Refer employees to the HR website.
  3. Prepare for expected absences. 
  4. Make a plan to cover the work. Prioritize the work, if needed.
  5. Watch for announcements or modifications about the OR PFML program.

PSU Leave Options

  • Sick Leave (and other accrued leaves)
  • FMLA/OFLA/OR PFML (job and benefits protections)
  • Short Term Disability
  • Workers Compensation
  • ADA Accommodations

Go to Leaves Webpage >>

Additional Resources

Depending on the Classification/Representation of your position the following may apply