File a Complaint

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Filing a complaint

If your rights are being violated at work or in Oregon, you can file a complaint through our Complaint Resolution Center.

Learn more about the laws that protect you and your rights by searching for a topic in our Help Center.

If you have questions, please email boli_help@boli.oregon.gov or call 971-245-3844.

Investigation process

Learn more about the process of a BOLI investigation and what to expect.

Complaint Guide

Check out the list of common violations and then take this quick quiz to figure out what you should do.

Question 1: Are you owed money? For example, your employer didn’t pay you, you weren’t paid overtime and should have been, you were paid less than minimum wage, or didn’t receive your final paycheck?

Answer: You should file a WAGE CLAIM. Employers are required to pay you the wages you are owed, and every Oregon worker must make at least minimum wage.

If you believe your employer is violating laws around Equal Pay, you should file a CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT.

You chose no. Please answer question 2.

Question 2: Does the violation include any of these categories? If so, choose yes.

Break and meal periods including incorrect deductions, deductions for breaking items or till shortages, or deductions not properly listed on the pay stub
Break and meal periods, for example no breaks or meals given, no relief from work responsibilities during breaks or meals, or not being paid for breaks
Sick time violations
Illegal deductions from paychecksincluding incorrect deductions, deductions for breaking items or till shortages, or deductions not properly listed on the pay stub
Not receiving pay stubs
Irregular pay periods
Child labor issues, for example working too many hours or too late, working during school hours

Answer: You should file a WORKER COMPLAINT.

You chose no. Please answer question 3.

Question 3: Are you being retaliated against at work for a protected activity? For example, being retaliated against for reporting and opposing a safety and/or health concern or for making a good faith report of a violation of a state or federal law, rule or regulation.

Answer: You should file a RETALIATION COMPLAINT.

You chose no. Please answer question 4.

Question 4: Are you being discriminated against or treated differently because of your race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status or age? This could be at work, in a public place such as a business or restaurant, or while trying to rent, purchase, or live in housing (private or public).

Answer:

At work: you should file an
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT

Trying to rent, purchase, or live in housing: you should file a
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT

At a public place you should file a
PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS COMPLAINT.

Answer: We need more information to be able to help you. Please call 971-673-0761 or email help@boli.state.or.us.

Common violations

If these violations happened to you, you can make a complaint with BOLI and we’ll help you get it fixed. If more than one of these applies to you, that’s okay - choose one and we’ll get more information from you as the process continues.

Pay

Didn’t get paycheck
Paid less than minimum wage
Didn’t get overtime pay
Employer went out of business without paying you
Paid less than other workers because of my gender

Other violations at work

Didn’t get sick time
Didn’t get breaks or meals you should have
Workers younger than 18 working too many hours
Irregular paychecks
Illegal deductions from paychecks
No time to express milk for child

Civil rights

Discriminated against while looking for housing
Discriminated against at work
Discriminated against for taking parental leave

Retaliation

Employer fired, demoted, or otherwise retaliated against me for whistleblowing or reporting illegal activity