I created this page about Oregon’s Preferred Worker Program because I work with the wonderful staff of the PWP and I provide Job Placment Assistance to Preferred Workers around the state.
If you are interested in finding out if you are eligible to be part of the Preferred Worker Program, please contact the office in Salem at the telephone number or email listed below.
If you are deemed eligible for the Preferred Worker Program and would like professional assistance in finding appropriate work and sharing your benefit information with potential employers please call or email me at the telephone or email listed below.
The Preferred Worker Program helps qualified Oregon workers who have permanent restrictions from on-the-job injuries and who are not able to return to their regular employment because of those injuries. Preferred workers can offer Oregon employers a chance to save money by hiring them.
Who is eligible?
Employers must have and keep Oregon workers’ compensation insurance and follow Oregon workers’ compensation laws. Workers must have an on-the-job injury that keeps them from going back to their regular work and leaves them with permanent restrictions.
What kind of help is available?
Premium exemption: Premium exemption saves an employer the costs of workers’ compensation insurance premiums and premium assessments on a preferred worker for three years. During the premium exemption period, the employer doesn’t report, and the insurer can’t use, the preferred worker’s wages to calculate insurance premiums or premium assessments. To use this benefit, the employer must notify the Workers’ Compensation Division within 90 days of hiring the preferred worker.
Claim cost reimbursement: WCD repays an employer’s insurer for costs of a new workers’ compensation claim if a preferred worker files one during the three-year premium exemption period.
Wage subsidy: WCD repays the employer 50 percent of the preferred worker’s wages for 183 days.
Employment purchases: Required to help a worker find, accept, or keep a job in Oregon. Purchases may include:
Tuition, books, and fees for classes to update existing skills or meet job requirements ($1,000 per use, up to $2,000)
Temporary lodging, meals, and mileage for overnight travel if required to attend classes (up to $1,000)
Tools and equipment required for the job ($2,500 per use, up to $5,000)
Clothing required for the job and not provided by the employer ($500 per use, up to $1,000)
Transportation-related purchases that enable the worker to commute excluding vehicles up to $1,000 within the first 90 days of employment
Union initiation fees or dues owed, plus one month’s current dues (up to $1,000)
Moving expenses for a job in Oregon if the new job is 50 miles or more from the worker’s home
Occupational certification, licenses, and related testing costs ($500 per use, up to $1,000)
Worksite creation costs when an employer creates a new job ($5,000 per use, up to $10,000)
Placement assistance to help a preferred worker find a job (up to $1,000)
Miscellaneous other purchases (up to $2,500)
Worksite modification: WCD repays costs of items needed to overcome injury-caused permanent restrictions so the worker can do a job ($35,000 per use, up to $50,000).
