2026 Workers' Comp Seminar sessions

State of SAIF

SAIF's President and CEO, Chip Terhune, gets the day going with a discussion of the state of SAIF and workers' comp.

How to successfully utilize RTW Services: Managing claims costs and employee retention post injury

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Learn about SAIF’s return-to-work (RTW) services and best practices for using them. We will introduce the benefits of establishing a RTW program and a formal policy. We will also share valuable tools such as RTW forms, the importance of establishing a formal RTW program, and useful practices that will help employers manage communication and support their employees after injury. An established RTW program is an essential employment program used to retain employees while minimizing time loss and other claim expenses. It supports injured employees by making them a part of the process and promotes proactive and ongoing communication. This session is presented by RTW consultants with over 25 years of experience in both workers' compensation and employee management.

Presenters: Olivia Ojeda-Hayes, Robert Wallace

This presentation qualifies for 1 regular CEC credit.

Partnering for impact: Engaging policyholders for safer outcomes

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In this session, you will learn about SAIF’s safety and health division's focus on building stronger partnerships with policyholders and business partners to drive real change. Our consultants use the Professional Consulting Series (PCS) principles to provide clear, actionable recommendations and work closely with businesses to gain commitment to implement those recommendations. By improving engagement and tracking outcomes, we aim to reduce exposures and injuries—and move closer to making Oregon the safest and healthiest state.

Presenters: Brittany Johnston, Soren Bjerregaard

This presentation qualifies for 1 regular CEC credit.

Let the judge decide | How Oregon courts continue to shape an evolving workers’ compensation system

This presentation will be available for download after the seminar.

SAIF Legal presents an in-depth overview of Oregon’s workers’ compensation case law. Workers’ compensation can often be understood as a “Grand Bargain” between management and labor. However, that bargain has and continues to be influenced by the courts without the direct input of either side. Since the drastic legislative reforms of the early 1990s, Oregon courts have issued an increasing number of cases reinterpreting and reshaping many key workers’ compensation principles. Learn about how recent cases will influence the system in 2026 and which way the pendulum has begun to swing.

Presenter: Daniel Walker

This presentation qualifies for 1 law CEC credit.

Legislative Update | Workers’ Compensation Proposals in the 2026 Legislative Session

This session will give an update on workers’ compensation legislative proposals that were introduced, passed, or failed during the 2026 legislative session. Proposals include increases to time loss payments and permanent total disability benefits, removing time limits for nurse practitioners and physician associates to treat injured workers, and many more.

Presenters: Ivo Trummer and Elaine Schooler

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This presentation qualifies for 1 law CEC credit.