Local athletes did remarkably well at the 2008 Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, which raises an interesting leave issue. It’s an obscure law, but Oregon requires employers to give Olympic athletes leave to compete. Under ORS 659.865, it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to infringe on an employee’s right to participate in any athletic event sanctioned by the national government body for that sport as recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee. It’s similarly unlawful to discriminate against employees who compete in Olympic sports. Unfortunately for this author, the law does not extend to beer pong.
