Under Senate Bill 537, new workplace violence prevention requirements are in effect for Oregon employers. The law expands the definition of workplace violence to include threats, intimidation, harassment, and other forms of abuse. It also now includes home health and hospice employers under the healthcare category. Healthcare employers must be proactive and conduct regular safety assessments that look for patterns of violence over the previous five years. The assessments must also analyze root causes and identify any potential vulnerabilities.

Employers must develop and maintain violence prevention and response plans and provide a written copy to each employee.

This article is informational and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with an employment lawyer or accountant for additional clarification on how these changes impact your company.