Report a Staffing Deviation
Oregon’s Hospital Safe Staffing Law (HB 2697, 2023) established mandatory staffing protections for professional and technical workers and service workers at hospitals — including expanded staffing committee structures and new state enforcement authority through the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).
If you believe OHSU has failed to comply with the staffing levels in your staffing plan, you can submit a complaint directly to OHA. Complaints can be filed by you individually or by AFSCME Local 328 on your behalf as your exclusive representative.
Your identity is protected throughout the process. Your name will not be shared with OHSU at any point. The final investigation report also excludes the names of all complainants.
Click here OR scan the QR code to submit a staffing deviation complaint
When prompted, select Professional and Technical or Service as your worker category — do not select the nurse staffing option.
When should I submit a complaint?
Nearly all elements of HB 2697 are in effect as of June 1, 2025. If you believe OHSU has failed to follow the staffing levels established in your professional and technical or service staffing plan — and the deviation was not permitted under the law — you may have grounds for a complaint.
Complaints must be submitted no later than 60 days after the violation occurs.
Valid complaints may include:
Failure to comply with the staffing levels in the adopted plan, where the deviation is not one allowed under the law. (most common)
Scan QR codes to search for your adopted plan.
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Failure to create or adopt a professional and technical staffing plan or a service staffing plan.
Failure to release a staffing committee member from other duties to attend a committee meeting.
Failure to establish a professional and technical staffing committee or a service staffing committee.
As of June 1, 2025, OHA can assess civil monetary penalties for violations — meaning complaints now carry real financial consequences for OHSU. Penalties range from a warning for a first violation up to $5,000 for repeated violations of the same provision. OHA also maintains a public record of all investigation reports where a warning was issued or a penalty imposed.
How do I submit a complaint?
Follow the link above and select your worker category (Professional and Technical or Service).
You will need to provide your name, home address, and phone number. This information is kept confidential and is not shared with OHSU or accessible to the public.
If you’re unsure whether a deviation was allowed under the law, contact your unit steward or the staffing committee before filing.
If you’d prefer not to file individually, AFSCME Local 328 can file on your behalf as your exclusive representative under OAR 333-503-0010.
What happens after I submit a complaint?
Within 14 days: OHA sends a copy of the complaint to AFSCME Local 328 as your exclusive representative.
Within 30 days: If OHA determines the complaint is valid, they open an investigation and notify OHSU and the staffing committee co-chairs. The notice includes only the calendar week of the alleged violation — your name, specific date, shift, and unit are not disclosed.
Within 20 days of notice: OHSU must provide relevant documentation to OHA, including the staffing plan and records of actual vs. scheduled staffing.
Within 80 days of opening the investigation: OHA must conclude its review and issue a written report to OHSU, the staffing committee co-chairs, and AFSCME. The report will not include the names of any complainants.
If OHA determines a complaint is not valid, they will send you a letter explaining why.
Questions or concerns?
Contact your unit steward or reach out to the Local 328 staffing committee. You can also find additional resources at local328.org/resources.