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On Monday, the Portland City Council instituted a mask mandate for businesses in the city. During their meeting, they also lifted the State of Emergency order, removing the hazard pay requirement for minimum wage employees effective January 13.
Businesses must post “masks required” signs and make them visible to the public as of January 10. The City Council will review this ordinance every 30 days to determine if it should stay in effect.
The new mask mandate is similar to previous mandates that have been imposed since 2020 with one distinction. Businesses that require proof of vaccination to enter their premises are exempt from the mask mandate.
Portland has a minimum wage ordinance which requires that all employees who cannot telework must be paid at least 1.5 times the minimum wage while an Emergency Order is in effect. The regular minimum wage is $13.00 per hour for hourly employees or $6.50 per hour for tipped workers. The hazard pay minimum wage is $19.50 per hour for hourly employees or $9.75 per hour for tipped workers. Portland’s State of Emergency and the requirement for hazard pay ends on January 13.