Oregon legislators introduced a bill this session that would amend the Oregon Equal Pay Act to exempt certain bonuses (such as signing and retention bonuses) from equal pay calculations. 

Oregon’s current equal pay laws require all types of compensation, including bonuses, to be considered in determining whether there is a pay disparity. Employers cannot pay an employee a higher rate than a coworker for similar work unless the pay disparity is justified by factors such as seniority, education, training, or experience.