Paid Leave Oregon Bulletin

Aug. 29, 2023  

Paid Leave Oregon’s First Week: By the Numbers! 

Oregonians began applying for paid leave benefits on Aug. 14. During our first week:  

• 4,631 applications received 
• 897 resolved Contact Us questions — we usually respond within two business days 
• 2,445 phone calls  
• 7 seconds: average call hold time 

We have started processing claims, approved claimants can begin taking leave on Sept. 3, 2023, and we expect to send out the first benefit payments on Sept. 13, 2023.

You can follow our progress each week by checking out our new dashboard found on the OED website. We update this dashboard every Wednesday with data from the week before. 

Application Advice: 

Remember: The Paid Leave claims process has two parts. 

1. Creating an account using Frances Online.
2. Submitting your claim with supporting documents.

Our new employee toolkit can help you with this process: 

• Video on Preparing to Apply for Benefits in Frances Online:  Watch this short video that shows the three steps for applying for benefits in Frances Online.
• What You Need to Apply for Benefits Checklist: Keep this checklist on hand when you apply for benefits.
• Benefits Calculator: Get an estimate of how much you will be paid while on leave.
• Eligibility Quiz: Take this short quiz to find out if you’re eligible for Paid Leave.

Your Top Questions Answered

Visitors to our website can use the “Contact Us” button to ask questions about Paid Leave. Here are some of the most common questions and their answers.

Question: How long does ID verification take?

Answer: ID verification generally will take up to two days.

Question: What are “qualifying events,” or “life events?"

Answer: “Qualifying events” and “life events” are things happening in our lives that may cause us to need paid leave. Examples of “qualifying events” may be a serious injury or a new family member. We use these terms to talk about events that are covered by paid leave. These kinds of events fall into three different types of leave: Family, Medical and Safe.  Our employee guidebook details which life events may qualify for each leave type on pages 7-10.  

Question: What documents do I need to apply? 

Answer: Documents needed to apply vary depending on what type of leave you are applying for. Please review our “What you need to apply for benefits” checklist for details. 

Question: Can both parents take bonding leave? Can they take it at the same time?  

Answer: Yes, bonding leave is for any parent to care for and bond with a child in the first year after birth, adoption, or foster care placement. Both parents can apply to take leave at the same time.  

News and Events 

Employer Workshop – What to do when an employee applies for paid leave

Employers and third party administrators (TPAs) can attend a virtual workshop on what to do when an employee files for paid leave. We will cover how to check and respond to paid leave requests in Frances Online.  

Join us Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 9 a.m. Please register in advance.

Benefits Explained Virtual Series 

If you are an employee or community member and want to learn more about Paid Leave Oregon benefits this is the series for you! 

Join us for a presentation and opportunity for questions and answers. All are welcome. ASL and Spanish interpretation provided. Please register in advance for the date that works best for you.   

• Thursday, Aug. 31, 3 p.m.  
• Thursday, Sept. 7, 3 p.m.  
• Thursday, Sept. 14, 7 a.m.  
• Thursday, Sept. 21, 3 p.m. 
• Thursday, Sept. 28, 5 p.m. 

Real Voices 

We want to hear your stories about how Paid Leave Oregon will help you and your family. We will use these stories, using your first name only, on social media and marketing materials to share what having paid leave will mean for you. Please email us your story at paidleaveconnect@employ.oregon.gov.

Join the Paid Leave Oregon team! 

Are you passionate about providing benefits to others and ensuring businesses, small employers, and employees are treated fairly? Consider joining the Paid Leave Oregon team. Additional Oregon Employment Department job openings are posted in Workday.

Contact Paid Leave Oregon

Form:  Contact Us
Email: PaidLeave@Oregon.gov
Call: 833-854-0166 (toll-free)