Oregon Court Clarifies That Asking for a Raise Is Protected by Wage Transparency Law
At a Glance Oregon court clarifies that wage transparency statute’s protections extend beyond pay discussions with co-workers. Merely asking for a raise is protected activity under state law. Employers may lawfully deny a raise request but cannot retaliate against an employee for making the request. In a clarification of Oregon’s wage transparency statute, the Oregon Court of Appeals has held that ORS 659A.355 protects an employee from retaliation for merely asking for a raise, even where no claim of pay inequity or class-based discrimination is alleged. In Mirkovic v. Tenasys Corp ., 348 Or App 70 (2026), the court rejected a narrow reading of the statute and found that its protections extend beyond coworker wage discussions to include employee‑employer wage negotiations. The decision reverses a trial court’s grant of summary judgment for the employer and provides important guidance for Oregon employers navigating compensation discussions with employees. Background The plaintiff ...