Oregon Law Against Gender Discrimination

Oregon law prohibits discrimination in employment based on gender. Sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination. Oregon's law covers employers, other than the federal government, with one or more employees.

Sexual Discrimination

• Discrimination based on gender in Oregon is prohibited in hiring, firing, compensation, conditions of employment and treatment on the job. An exception exists for bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ). Examples of BFOQs include gender-based roles in the theater and jobs in which invasion of privacy issues are an integral part of the job, as for example, those in law enforcement required to conduct body searches for contraband.

History

• Oregon's laws against discrimination originated in 1955, with the equal pay for equal work law. Since that time, the law mandates that members of both sexes performing work which requires equal responsibility, effort and ability, and is done under similar working conditions, be paid equally.

Sexual Harassment

• Sexual harassment is a form of sexual discrimination and against the law in the Oregon workplace. Sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature can rise to the level of sexual harassment when submitting to the conduct is a condition of employment or the basis for employment decisions, or when the conduct is sufficiently severe that it creates a hostile, intimidating or offensive work environment.