Paid Leave Oregon

Klamath County is committed to providing every employee the time and support they need to care for themselves and their loved ones when life’s important moments affect their health and safety. The County supports equitable access to paid leave for all workers. Klamath County provides a self-insured Paid Leave Plan that exceeds the benefits provided by the state plan. As part of this plan, employees will receive up to 12 weeks of Paid Leave per benefit year (up to 14 weeks for pregnancy-related medical leave) without reduction to their salary. In addition, there will be no deductions withheld from employee paychecks to provide this leave. This benefit will begin September 3, 2023.

The following are qualifying events for the Paid Leave plan:

• Family leave
  • Birth of a child (in the first 12 months of birth, through adoption, or foster care placement); an additional leave (limited to two weeks) related to pregnancy issues for a birth parent.
  • Bonding with a child (in the first 12 months of birth, through adoption, or foster care placement).
  • To care for a family member with a serious health condition. Family members include spouses and domestic partners, children, parents, siblings or stepsiblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and any individual related by blood or affinity whose relationship is equivalent to family.
  • To recover from physical and mental impacts due to miscarriage or stillbirth.
• Medical leave
  • To care for yourself when you have a serious health condition.
• Safe leave
  • For survivors of sexual assaults, domestic violence, harassment, or stalking, or to obtain legal or law enforcement assistance, seek medical treatment to recover from injuries, obtain counseling or support services, to relocate or take other steps to secure the health and safety of themselves or their dependent child(ren).

Employees who have been employed by the County for more than 90 days prior to the start of leave shall be entitled to return to their position or an equivalent position if their original position no longer exists. This will include the same benefits, pay and other terms and conditions of employment. The use of Paid Leave will not impact an employee’s seniority or length of service.

All full-time, part-time, on-call, temporary, and seasonal County employees are eligible for paid leave benefits after 30 days of continuous employment*. This policy does not apply to independent contractors, state or federal work training participants, work study participants, volunteers, and employees contracted through a temporary staffing agency. Employees currently receiving workers’ compensation or unemployment benefits are ineligible for Paid Leave.

To apply for benefits, please complete the KCPLO Application and the appropriate verification form based on the type of leave you are requesting. Each verification form will need to be completed by a professional (list of acceptable professionals provided on the verification form). 

* The 30-day window is waived if the employee has terminated employment that was eligible to receive benefits under a state-approved Paid Leave Plan and earned at least $1,000 in the previous 52 weeks (or 53 weeks if applicable). The County may contact the Oregon Employment Department to determine employee eligibility.