Bill would allow workers to get paid for time spent getting physical therapy to treat workplace injuries.
Oregonians who are hurt on the job may no longer need to dip into vacation and sick time when they go to medical appointments to get treated for their injuries, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
The state Senate unanimously passed a bill late Monday that would allow workers to get paid for time spent on getting medical care or physical therapy to treat workplace injuries. The measure now goes to the House.
Senate Bill 418 would close a gap in the coverage that Oregon employees currently get through the state’s workers’ compensation system, which pays employees when they miss work due to an on-the-job injury.
In existing Oregon state law, workers with an approved workers’ compensation claim get paid for the time they miss work due to an injury – but only if they miss more than four hours of work at a time. As a result, workers who need regular medical care or therapy for injuries are often not eligible for pay because those appointments are usually less than four hours long.
