Oregon approves paid sick leave for blood donation
Oregon has passed a new labor law, effective from January 1, 2026, allowing workers to use paid sick leave to donate blood, as reported by SHRM.
The bill, signed by Governor Tina Kotek, permits employees to use paid sick leave for blood donation, provided the donation is through a program accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) or approved by the American Red Cross.
The passage of the bill makes Oregon one of only two US jurisdictions with paid leave laws that explicitly cover blood or organ donation. In San Francisco, similar laws already allow paid sick leave to be used for bone marrow or organ donation.
The bill was introduced by State Senator Lew Frederick and passed to promote civic health participation without penalizing employees financially. According to official state estimates, the law will have minimal fiscal impact on government expenditures and no effect on tax revenue.
Implications for Employers and Employees
Employers in Oregon must update their sick leave policies before January 1, 2026, to include blood donation as an approved use. Businesses should ensure that their HR systems and employee communications reflect this change to avoid potential compliance issues.
Oregon’s law already requires employers with 10 or more workers (or six or more in Portland) to provide up to 40 hours of paid sick time per year. The new bill does not increase the amount of leave available, it simply adds to the list of valid reasons employees may use that leave.
Uniquely, Oregon’s labor laws remain the only state where donating sick leave to another employee counts against the donating employee’s annual usage cap. Attorneys at Littler Mendelson emphasize that this accounting detail is unique among paid sick leave laws in the United States.
“Though many paid sick leave laws discuss employees’ voluntarily donating sick leave, Oregon’s is the only one that expressly counts donated leave against the annual amount of leave a donating employee can ‘use’ under the law,” Littler wrote in a legal update.
As Oregon prepares to implement the change in 2026, HR professionals and business leaders are encouraged to update leave policies and begin internal education efforts. Early preparation can ensure smooth compliance and continued employee trust in leave systems.
Related Content:
The Ultimate Guide to Managing Employee Leave
5 Effective Ways to Leave Work on Time
How to Create a PTO Policy for a US Company
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