ORS 652.210: Definitions for ORS 652.210 to 652.235.
Edition: 2025 EditionEffective: 2026-01-01Last verified: 2026-09-07
As used in ORS 652.210 to 652.235, unless the context requires otherwise: (1)(a) “Compensation” includes wages, salary, bonuses, benefits, fringe benefits and equity-based compensation. (b) “Compensation” does not include vaccine incentives. (2) “Employee” means any individual who, otherwise than as a copartner of the employer, as an independent contractor or as a participant in a work training program administered under the state or federal assistance laws, renders personal services wholly or partly in this state to an employer who pays or agrees to pay such individual at a fixed rate. However, when services are rendered only partly in this state, an individual is not an employee unless the contract of employment of the employee has been entered into, or payments thereunder are ordinarily made or to be made, within this state. (3)(a) “Employer” means any person employing one or more employees, including the State of Oregon or any political subdivision thereof or any county, city, district, authority, public corporation or entity and any of their instrumentalities organized and existing under law or charter. (b) “Employer” does not include the federal government. (4) “Equal-pay analysis” means an evaluation process to assess and correct wage disparities among employees who perform work of comparable character. (5) “Gender identity” has the meaning given that term in ORS 174.100. (6) “Protected class” means a group of persons distinguished by race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or age. (7) “Public health emergency” means: (a) A public health emergency declared under ORS 433.441. (b) An emergency declared under ORS 401.165 if related to a public health emergency as defined in ORS 433.442. (8) “Rate” with reference to wages means: (a) The basis of compensation for services by an employee for an employer; and (b) Compensation based on the time spent in the performance of the services, on the number of operations accomplished or on the quantity produced or handled. (9) “Sexual orientation” has the meaning given that term in ORS 174.100. (10) “System” means a consistent and verifiable method in use at the time that a violation is alleged under ORS 652.220. (11) “Unpaid wages” means the difference between the wages actually paid to an employee and the wages required under ORS 652.220 to be paid to the employee. (12) “Vaccine incentives” means monetary or nonmonetary incentives, including but not limited to additional paid time off or protected time off from work provided by employers to employees who have been immunized against infectious diseases for which a public health emergency has been declared. (13) “Veteran status” means an individual is a veteran as defined in ORS 408.225. (14) “Wages” means all compensation for performance of service by an employee for an employer, whether paid by the employer or another person, or paid in cash or any medium other than cash. (15) “Working conditions” includes work environment, hours, time of day, physical surroundings and potential hazards encountered by an employee. (16) “Work of comparable character” means work that requires substantially similar knowledge, skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions in the performance of work, regardless of job description or job title. [1955 c.193 §1; 1985 c.100 §1; 1987 c.158 §124; 1993 c.739 §25; 2005 c.22 §457; 2017 c.197 §1; 2019 c.617 §1; 2021 c.363 §§2,3,4; 2021 c.367 §29; 2022 c.23 §§1,2]
Administrative rules citing this section
- OAR 603-082-0010: Purpose — implements
- OAR 603-082-0020: Definitions — implements
- OAR 839-001-0495: Violations Separate and Distinct — implements
- OAR 839-001-0496: Civil Penalties for Violation of Regulations Pertaining to the Payment of Wages — implements
- OAR 839-008-0000: Definitions — implements
- OAR 839-008-0010: Work of Comparable Character — implements
- OAR 839-008-0020: Determining Benefits as Part of Compensation — implements
- OAR 839-008-0025: Reductions in Employee Compensation — implements
This rule cites
- ORS 652.210 — resolved
- 652.235 — resolved
- ORS 174.100 — resolved
- ORS 433.441 — resolved
- ORS 401.165 — resolved
- ORS 433.442 — resolved
- ORS 652.220 — resolved
- ORS 408.225 — resolved
Cited by
- ORS 350.276: Definitions for ORS 350.278 and 350.280.
- ORS 418.799: Immunity from civil liability; exceptions.
- ORS 652.220: Prohibition of discriminatory wage rates based on protected class; exceptions; employer not to discriminate against employee who is complainant.
- ORS 652.230: Employee right of action against employer for unpaid wages and damages; statute of limitations; notice requirement.
- ORS 652.752: Federal inspections of employee verification records; employer to provide employees with advance notice of inspection.
- ORS 652.755: Rules regarding notice to employees about state and federal earned income tax credits.
- ORS 652.990: Criminal penalties.
- OAR 125-246-0330: Supplier Requirements
- OAR 839-008-0000: Definitions
- OAR 839-008-0010: Work of Comparable Character
- OAR 839-008-0020: Determining Benefits as Part of Compensation
- OAR 839-008-0025: Reductions in Employee Compensation
Official source: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors652.html