Labor Commissioner proposes change to Oregon’s employee non-competition law

House Bill 2257, proposed by Oregon’s Commissioner of Labor and currently under consideration by the state legislature, would change Oregon’s employee non-competition law by making non-competition agreements unenforceable in circumstances where the employee is “laid off.”  Under the proposed new law, a layoff is “the permanent termination of an employment relationship for reasons that are beyond the employee's control and that do not reflect discredit upon the employee.  Reasons for a layoff include, but are not limited to, the elimination of the employee's position, a lack of available funding or work, a reduction in the size of the workforce and changes in the workplace that affect staffing needs.”

To track HB 2257 and other legislative measures, go here.