HR News

Guidelines for paying staff when bad weather closes a workplace or halts business operations  Employers’ pay obligations during inclement weather closures are based on the worker’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) classification—depending on whether the employee is classified as an exempt employee or a non-exempt worker who is eligible for overtime. Additionally, some state laws may come into play depending on the circumstances involved.   Whether or not you maintain a brick-and-mortar workplace or have remote […]

Do you have to keep OSHA 300 records and post a 300A summary in February? It depends on your industry and if you have been asked.   If you are unfamiliar with the OSHA 300 logs, they are a nationwide standard that records workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses, so you can compare injuries in Oregon to any other state. It is also helpful to note that an accepted workers’ compensation claim is probably recordable, but not […]

It is that time of the year again to get your OSHA 300A posted (technically as of February 1st, 2026). Starting in 2024 Cardinal has been tracking recordable injuries and illnesses in PrismHR, our new payroll platform.    Some advantages of the new system:  Our Risk Team enters in injury data quickly and keeps it up to date. For example, how many days of lost time.   OSHA 300 logs are updated daily in the new […]

A comprehensive job description is more than just a recruiting tool.  For most employers, a job description is used only when hiring. Traditionally, it is a bare-bones document outlining the tasks, duties, functions, and responsibilities for performing a given job.     Job Descriptions are not just for recruiting!  Employers shouldn’t wait until there is a sudden need to hire to have a job description for each employee. Having a “ready to go” job description for […]

Cardinal Offers Affordable Group Health Insurance Plans!    Health Insurance is the #1 benefit requested by employees!   A powerful recruiting and retention perk, Group Health Insurance is almost always on the wish list for employers and their employees. However, the cost of Group Health Insurance is often prohibitively high, and many small businesses can’t afford it. If you have less than 50 employees and your business is based in Oregon, your options are limited to […]

Oregon’s House Bill 3187 strengthens existing age discrimination laws by prohibiting employers, agencies, and recruiters from requesting an applicant’s age, birthdate, or graduation dates before an initial interview or conditional job offer.  Exceptions exist for bona fide occupational qualifications (BFOQs), legal compliance (like verifying minimum working age), and certain other legitimate business needs.  Importantly, any age-related inquiries must be non-discriminatory.  The bill also removes age restrictions from apprenticeship programs.  Oregon employers must review and update […]

You might have heard about the new federal law referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill” about no taxes on tips and overtime, but how does that work and what does that mean to your employees? A key point to note is that this is a tax deduction. Employees still pay taxes on overtime and tips but get a tax deduction when they file taxes. So, employees will have to wait until tax season when […]

Recent passage of Oregon Senate Bill 916 will allow striking workers unemployment benefits. Prior to the passage of SB 916, employees that were separated from employment under certain conditions, such as a lay off or a one-time mistake at work, would qualify for unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks. Striking workers were excluded as they did not meet a qualifying reason to obtain benefits. The initial bill would have given striking workers up to […]

DO NOT ASK THESE 5 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS  There are many questions U.S. employers cannot legally ask during a job interview, but here are five of the most often asked questions that will expose you to legal liability. Questions about age, marital status, children, ethnicity, and religion should never be asked during job interviews, and if asked, will still put any company in legal jeopardy.     Here are the 5 “do not ask” interview questions:   What’s […]

Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries [BOLI] announced upcoming changes to Oregon’s minimum wage rates based on a 2.4% rise in the US Consumer Price Index from March 2024 to March 2025.   For hours worked July 1st and forward—Oregon’s minimum wage rates increase 35¢ based on year-over-year inflation: Standard Minimum Wage: $15.05 per hour Portland Metro Minimum Wage*: $16.30 per hour Non-Urban Minimum Wage**: $14.05 per hour   *Portland Metro Minimum Wage: Applies to work locations within […]