EUGENE, Ore. -- A new law allowing Oregon workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave could bring many benefits to new parents, but some local businesses are concerned about what it will cost them.
Gov. Kate Brown signed the bill on Friday. It applies to new parents, workers caring for severely ill family members, parents caring for newly-adopted children and people recovering from an illness.

RELATED: GOV. BROWN SIGNS PROGRESSIVE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE BILL
Taylor Smith, a Eugene mother who had her daughter over a year ago, says this new law is important for new mothers so they can get bonding time with their newborns.
"I think allowing moms to be with their children for that amount of time is so beneficial to them and beneficial to the moms to get that time," says Smith.
KEZI 9 News spoke with some local businesses, and while they support the bill, they said it may become harder to hire women because they fear they won’t be able to cover the paid leave for an employee.
However, Danea Deglee, another Eugene mother, says a law like this is important for young mothers who need time to adjust to motherhood or struggle financially.
"They need time to bond with their babies,” says Deglee. “I know my mom had to go back to work when my brother was just two weeks old, and I can't imagine that because you're not healed yet at that point."
Related Content
- Some moms calling paid leave law ‘beneficial’ as businesses worry about cost
- Teachers in border wall Halloween costumes put on paid leave
- Lawmakers weigh bill requiring paid leave for Oregon employees
- Gov. Brown signs progressive paid family and medical leave bill
- 4J school bus mix-up has Eugene mom worried for son
- Two 4J teachers on paid leave as school district investigates camping trip
- Kamala Harris proposes six months paid leave for all workers in new plan
- Paid apprenticeships available in sheet metal industry
- Special Report: Homeless Camp Costs
- Teacher walkout worries parents, school officials