Oregon farmers dispute 'show-up pay' proposal
Under House Bill 2193 and Senate Bill 828, large employers in the agriculture industry would have to provide workers with additional compensation if their schedules are changed with less than 24 hours notice, among other provisions.
Proponents say the bills are necessary because workers in these sectors often contend with schedule disruptions that prevent them from pursuing an education, obtaining adequate childcare or even getting sufficient sleep.
Critics say it’s unrealistic for employers to plan two weeks ahead for canceled events, family emergencies, unforeseen worker departures and other incidents that can upend schedules.
The employer would then pay workers at their regular wage for the missing hours, or four hours, whichever is less. Farmers have objected to this provision because foul weather can unexpectedly delay harvests or other operations, so requiring “show-up pay” would unreasonably impose a heavy financial strain.
“Weather plays a big role and we have no control over this,” said Anne Krahmer, whose family raises blueberries in the Willamette Valley
If she had to pay 150 workers an average of $15 for each of the four hours they didn’t harvest fruit, the cost would come to $9,000 for a single day.
“It would only take a few days to put me out of business at this rate,” Krahmer said.
source: argusobserver.com
