Oregon Workers' Compensation Laws

All employers with 1 or more workers (including part-time and seasonal) must provide workers' compensation coverage. Exemptions include sole proprietors with no employees, certain domestic workers, and casual labor. Employers may self-insure with state approval or purchase insurance from SAIF Corporation or a private carrier.

SAIF (State Accident Insurance Fund) Corporation is Oregon's state-chartered workers' compensation insurance company. It is not a state agency but operates as a public corporation that competes with private insurers. SAIF is the insurer of last resort — it must accept all employers that apply.

TTD benefits are 66 2/3% of the worker's average weekly wage, with a maximum of $1,400.84/week and a minimum of $50/week or actual wage if less (July 2025–June 2026). There is no maximum duration for TTD benefits — they continue until the worker is medically stationary or returns to work.

Injured workers have the right to choose their own attending physician. The employer/insurer cannot direct the worker to a specific doctor. The attending physician manages the worker's treatment and determines work capacity.

Workers who cannot return to regular employment due to their injury are eligible for vocational assistance — including retraining, job placement, and up to 16 months of training benefits at the TTD rate.