Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 657 § 657.010 — General definitions

General definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Base year” means the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters preceding the benefit year. (2) “Benefits” means the money allowances payable to unemployed persons under this chapter. (3) “Benefit year” means a period of 52 consecutive weeks commencing with the first week with respect to which an individual files an initial valid claim for benefits, and thereafter the 52 consecutive weeks period beginning with the first week with respect to which the individual next files an initial valid claim after the termination of the individual’s last preceding benefit year except that the benefit year shall be 53 weeks if the filing of an initial valid claim would result in overlapping any quarter of the base year of a previously filed initial valid claim. (4) “Calendar quarter” means the period of three consecutive calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31, or the approximate equivalent thereof, as the Director of the Employment Department may, by rule, prescribe. (5) “Client employer” means an employer that enters into a PEO relationship. (6) “Client worker” means an individual who performs services for compensation for the client of a professional employer organization. (7) “Contribution” or “contributions” means the money payments required by this chapter, or voluntary payments permitted, to be made to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. (8) “Covered employee” means a client worker for whom a PEO has assumed employer responsibilities under a PEO relationship. (9) “Educational institution,” including an institution of higher education, means an institution: (a) In which participants, trainees or students are offered an organized course of study or training designed to transfer to them knowledge, skills, information, doctrines, attitudes or abilities from, by or under the guidance of an instructor or teacher; (b) That is accredited, registered, approved, licensed or issued a permit to operate as a school by the Department of Education or other government agency, or that offers courses for credit that are transferable to an approved, registered or accredited school; (c) In which the course or courses of study or training that it offers may be academic, technical, trade or preparation for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; and (d) In which the course or courses of study or training are offered on a regular and continuing basis. (10) “Employment office” means a free public employment office or branch thereof, operated by this state or maintained as a part of a state-controlled system of public employment offices. (11) “Hospital” has the meaning given that term in ORS 442.015. (12) “Institution of higher education” means an educational institution that: (a) Admits as regular students only individuals having a certificate of graduation from a high school, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate; (b) Is legally authorized in this state to provide a program of education beyond high school; (c) Provides an educational program for which it awards a bachelor’s or higher degree, or provides a program that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, a program of post-graduate or post-doctoral studies, or a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; and (d) Is a public or other nonprofit institution. (13) “Instructional capacity” does not include services performed as an instructional assistant as defined in ORS 342.120. (14) “Internal Revenue Code” means the federal Internal Revenue Code, as amended and in effect on December 31, 2023. (15) “Labor dispute” means any concerted or deliberate action by two or more individuals or by an employing unit resulting in either a strike or lockout in which wages, hours, working conditions or terms of employment of the individuals are involved. (16) “Lockout” means any refusal by an employer to permit employees to work as a result of a dispute with the employees affecting wages, hours or other terms or conditions of their employment. (17) “Nonprofit employing unit” means an organization, or group of organizations, described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that is exempt from income tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. (18) “PEO relationship” means an agreement between a PEO and a client employer under which certain employer responsibilities for some or all of the client employer’s workers are allocated. (19)(a) “Professional employer organization” or “PEO” means a person required to be licensed under ORS 656.855 that enters into a PEO relationship with a client employer. (b) “Professional employer organization” or “PEO” does not mean a person that solely provides workers to a client on a temporary basis or a person that provides payroll processing or similar administrat