OAR 839-005-0003: Definitions: Enforcement of Laws Prohibiting Unlawful Practices

As used in enforcing ORS Chapter 659A, including housing discrimination under 659A.145 or 659A.421 or the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §3601–3617): (1) “Aggrieved Person” means either: (a) A person who is, or was at any time, eligible to file a complaint under ORS 659A.820 or who is otherwise similarly situated; or (b) A person who files a complaint under ORS 659A.825. (2) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Labor and Industries. (3) "Division" means the Civil Rights Division of the Bureau of Labor and Industries. (4) "Employee" does not include: (a) Any individual employed by that individual's spouse or child; or (b) Any individual employed by that individual’s parents, unless the individual is in the domestic service of their parent and is 26 years or older. (5) "Employer" means any person in this state who, directly or through an agent, engages or utilizes the personal service of one or more employees, reserving the right to control the means by which such service is or will be performed. Employer also includes any public body that, directly or through an agent, engages or utilizes the personal service of one or more employees, reserving the right to control the means by which such service is or will be performed, including all officers, agencies, departments, divisions, bureaus, boards and commissions of the legislative, judicial and administrative branches of the state, all county and city governing bodies, school districts, special districts, municipal corporations and all other political subdivisions of the state. Employer also includes any person who is in an employment relationship with an intern as defined in subsection (10) of this rule. (6) "Employment agency" includes any person undertaking to procure employees or opportunities to work. (7) “Federal housing law” means the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §3601–3617). (8) “Gender expression” means the manner in which an individual’s gender identity is expressed, including, but not limited to, through dress, appearance, manner, or speech, whether or not that expression is different from that traditionally associated with the individual’s assigned sex at birth. (9) “Gender identity” means an individual’s gender-related identity, whether or not that identity is different from that traditionally associated with the individual’s assigned sex at birth, including, but not limited to, a gender identity that is transgender or androgynous. (10) “Intern” means a person who performs work for an employer for the purpose of training if: (a) The employer is not committed to hire the person performing the work at the conclusion of the training period; (b) The employer and the person performing the work agree in writing that the person performing the work is not entitled to wages for the work performed; and (c) The work performed: (A) Supplements training given in an education environment that may enhance employability of the intern; (B) Provides experience for the benefit of the person performing the work; (C) Does not displace regular employees; (D) Is performed under the close supervision of existing staff; and (E) Provides no immediate advantage to the employer providing the training and may occasionally impede the operations of the employer. (d) An intern is considered to be in an employment relationship with an employer for the purposes of employee protections provided under ORS 659A.030, 659A.082, 659A.109, 659A.112, 659A.136, 659A.142, 659A.199, 659A.230, 659A.233, 659A.236, 659A.290, 659A.300, 659A.303, 659A.306, and 659A.315. (e) “Intern” includes any person meeting the description set forth in this rule regardless of the title of the person’s position or whether they are currently enrolled in an education or training program. (11) "Labor organization" includes any organization that is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining or in dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employees. (12) “Person” includes one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, labor organizations, limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, corporations, legal representatives, trustees, and trustees in bankruptcy or receivers. “Person” also includes a public body as defined in ORS 30.260. For the purposes of 659A.145 or 659A.421 or the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §3601–3617), “person” also includes fiduciaries, mutual companies, trusts and unincorporated organizations. (13) "Protected class" means a group of people protected by law from discrimination on the basis of a shared characteristic, such as race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or other, or a perception of that characteristic. (14) "Respondent" includes any person against whom a complaint or charge of unlawful practices is filed with the division or whose name has been added to such complaint or charge pursuant to ORS 659A.835(1). (15) “Sex” means the anatomical, physiological and genetic characteristics associated with being male or female. (16) “Sexual orientation” means an individual’s actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender identity, regardless of whether the individual’s gender identity, appearance, expression or behavior differs from that traditionally associated with the individual’s assigned sex at birth.