Paternity Leave in Oregon: Up to 100 Percent of Your Pay

Oregon has a quiet superpower: if you earn below a certain amount, Paid Leave Oregon replaces 100 percent of your wages. Few states go that far. Even if you earn more, it’s one of the better deals out there.

Do you qualify for paternity leave in Oregon?

Very likely. You need to have earned at least $1,000 in Oregon in your base year, which is roughly the year that ended a few months before your leave. That’s a low bar. Part-time work counts.

Bonding leave is for both parents, in the baby’s first year. Self-employed and independent contractors can opt in.

Is your job protected during paternity leave in Oregon?

Yes, once you’ve worked for your employer for at least 90 days in a row. Then you get your job back, or an equivalent one, when your leave ends.

Not sure how to bring it up at work? Our guide on how to ask for paternity leave has a script.

How much is paid family leave in Oregon, and for how long?

It depends on your pay. If your weekly wage is at or below 65 percent of the state average, you get 100 percent. Above that, you get a set amount plus half of the rest.

The maximum is $1,692.16 a week for benefit years starting on or after June 28, 2026. The minimum is $70.51.

You get up to 12 weeks in a 52-week period, to use in the baby’s first year. You’ve chipped in already: employees pay 60 percent of a 1 percent contribution on each paycheck.

How to file a paid family leave claim in Oregon

You apply through Frances Online, the state’s portal.

1. Tell your employer at least 30 days ahead. In writing, if they ask. This matters more in Oregon than most states: skip it and the state can cut your first week’s benefit by up to 25 percent.
2. Apply up to 30 days before your leave, and no later than 30 days after it starts.
3. Send proof of the birth when the state asks for it.
4. Claim each week after the week ends. No weekly claim, no payment.

Baby came early and you couldn’t give 30 days? Tell your employer within 24 hours, and in writing within 3 days. Help line: 833-854-0166.

What does your employer have to do?

• Give you your job back, or an equivalent one, if you’ve been there 90 days.
• Keep your health insurance going as it was before your leave. Adding the baby to the plan is a separate step with its own short deadline.
• Not punish you for taking Paid Leave. The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) takes complaints.

Oregon paid family leave deadlines

• 30 days before your leave: tell your employer, ideally in writing. It protects your first check.
• Up to 30 days before your leave: apply in Frances Online.
• Within 30 days of the birth: add the baby to your health plan. Federal rules give you at least 30 days.
• Within 30 days after your leave starts: last day to apply.
• Within 30 days after each week of leave: file that week’s claim.
• Baby’s first birthday: all bonding leave has to be used by then.

Before you lock in dates, take our free paternity leave HR questions to HR and write the answers down. Rather ask by email? Our free HR email template is ready to copy: fill in the blanks and hit send.

---

General information, not legal or financial advice. Figures are for benefit years from June 2026 and change every year. Check with HR and paidleave.oregon.gov before you plan dates.

Sources: Paid Leave Oregon, what to expect, applying for family leave, Oregon Employment Department: 2026 benefit amounts, ORS 657B, BOLI, US Department of Labor.