Florinda Velasquez, 74, prepares to receive her second dose of Covid vaccine from medical assistant Ana Barcenas at Lancaster Family Health Center in southeast Salem on Thursday, March 4 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter)
As Oregon continues ramping up inoculations against Covid, a state agency took to Twitter on Wednesday with a reminder for the state’s workforce: “You can use sick time to get your vaccine.”
The tweet came from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, which included a website with more information on the ins and outs of the state’s sick-leave law.
“I encourage every person to get their shot when they’re eligible, and I encourage employers to do everything they can to support vaccination efforts,” Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle said in a statement. “Each and every shot in the arm is a step forward to protect our entire community from widespread disease and severe illness.”
According to the website, workers at companies with 10 or more employees get paid sick time under Oregon law. Sick time is protected at smaller companies but is unpaid.
That time can be used for many reasons, including doctor visits and helping sick or injured family members. Workers get at least one hour of protected sick time for every 30 hours worked 90 days after starting a job.
-Jake Thomas
