Temporary Rules Cut Penalty for Uninsured Employers

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division adopted rules that temporarily reduce the penalty for a first violation of operating without workers' compensation insurance in what it described as an effort to reduce economic burdens on businesses that might be struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Civil penalties for not carrying insurance are intended to promote compliance with the law. “An appropriate penalty amount in a normal economy may prove excessive during a recession when a sanction is more likely to affect the viability of the business,” the WCD sai...