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September 8, 2021 - What a vaccine surcharge looks like for your business

The Other Delta: The Delta Airlines Vaccine Surcharge & What a Surcharge Could Look Like for Your Business By Iris Tilley & Jeff Robertson Barran Liebman, Oregon law firm Delta Airlines recently made headlines stating it would require all employees who remained unvaccinated against COVID-19 to pay a $200 surcharge […]


September 7, 2021 - Report: The state of our restaurants

National Restaurant Association The National Restaurant Association released a mid-year supplement to the 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Report, which illustrates the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the restaurant industry. The report provides an updated look at key indicators and trends influencing the industry’s recovery as of […]


September 3, 2021 - Nearly half of businesses can’t fill jobs

By NFIB, Fifty percent of all small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, a record high reading according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report. The number of unfilled job openings has remained far above the 48-year historical average of 22%. “Small employers are struggling […]


September 2, 2021 - Those fired for refusing vaccine may not be eligible for jobless benefits

Employees Who Are Fired for Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine May Not be Eligible for Jobless Benefits By Sarah Hale & Bruce Garrett Barran Liebman Law As a general rule, jobless benefits are available to unemployed Oregon workers who are laid off or who have good cause to quit their jobs. Workers […]


September 1, 2021 - 20% small business asking for PPP loan forgiveness

By Oregon Small Business Association, About 20 percent of business owners who borrowed money this year to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic have asked the Small Business Administration to forgive their Paycheck Protection Program loans—and most of those requests have been granted. About 1.27 million small businesses have sought […]


August 31, 2021 - Private Universities see record enrollment in fall

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation, Private universities in Portland are seeing an increase in enrollment this year, possibly because people are tired of sitting at home and yearning to learn in classrooms on campuses. Some of those registering this year deferred enrollment in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. […]


August 30, 2021 - NFIB thanks Gov. Brown for UI Tax Relief Bill

By Oregon NFIB, NFIB, Oregon’s largest and leading small-business association, today extends its gratitude to Gov. Kate Brown for signing House Bill 3389 into law. “Oregon’s small businesses urgently needed this legislation,” said Anthony Smith, NFIB Oregon state director, about the new law, which provides substantial relief for employers facing […]


August 27, 2021 - What 10M vacant jobs means for economic recovery

By US Chamber, The worker shortage crisis has kicked into another gear. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today there were 10.1 million job openings in the economy at the end of June. This is by far the record amount of job openings the economy has ever had. This […]


August 26, 2021 - Business divided 48% to 44% over vaccine passports

By Oregon Small Business Association, As coronavirus cases surge worldwide, prompting Gov. Kate Brown implemented a mask mandate in all indoor public settings beginning Aug. 13, the question of requiring passports to proof of vaccination status has arisen. However, a slight majority of people polled by the Portland Business Journal […]


August 25, 2021 - Gresham ID theft ring broken. Over 100 victims

By US Attorney, Oregon District A Gresham, Oregon man pleaded guilty today for stealing financial and identification documents from more than 100 people in and around Portland. Robert Loren Finanders, 40, pleaded guilty to unauthorized access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and […]