As reported by Barran Liebman, a new law signed by Governor Kitzhaber requires that Oregon employers must provide employees who are veterans with time off on Veterans Day, as of April 4, 2013. This law is effective immediately, so prepare to process requests for time off on Veterans Day, November 11, 2013.
Veteran Eligibility
– Must request Veterans Day off at least 21 days in advance
– Must have served on active duty in the Armed Forces for at least 6 months and received a discharge under honorable conditions
“Military service in a reserve or National Guard unit does not qualify an employee as a veteran, unless the employee was deployed or served on active duty for at least 6 months.”
Employer Implications
-Must respond to the employee’s request at least 14 days prior to Veterans Day, indicating whether he or she will receive time off and whether the time off will be paid or unpaid
-May require the employee to provide documents establishing his or her status as an eligible veteran
-May deny the veterans request if they can demonstrate that granting the request would cause a significant economic or operational disruption or an undue hardship to the company
“In those circumstances, the employer must then allow the employee a single day off before the following Veterans Day to honor the holiday. That day off must be in addition to any other time off to which the employee would otherwise be entitled.”
If questions remain about an employee’s eligibility under the Veterans Day law, contact legal counsel or the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Read the eAlert here.