Oregon’s Overtime Law and the Role of Community-Based Research

By Alicia Arreola-Bustos, M.P.H. and Krista Brockwood, Ph.D.

In 2022, Oregon passed HB4002, a landmark law that extends overtime pay to agricultural workers. This change is significant, as farmworkers have been excluded from overtime protections under federal law for decades. Many of Oregon’s farmworkers are Latine, and the new law carries important implications not only for workers themselves but also for their families and communities.

To better understand these impacts, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University, led by Dr. Leslie Hammer, are collaborating with community organizations including Pineros Y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), Centro Cultural, and the Oregon Human Development Corporation (OHDC). Together, they are examining how overtime pay influences the health and well-being of agricultural workers and their families.

A Community-Based Approach: No Solutions About Us, Without Us 

This project uses Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), an approach that places the voices of farmworkers and community organizations at the center of the research process. Farmworkers share their experiences through surveys and focus groups, while community-based organizations are directly involved in shaping the study design, developing questions, and interpreting findings.

The research team also ensures that results are shared back with organizations in formats that can support their ongoing advocacy and service work.

Benefits of CBPR 

Unlike traditional research models where academic institutions lead the process, CBPR emphasizes partnership. This approach makes the work more culturally responsive, builds trust, and improves the relevance of the findings. For example, community partners’ lived experiences guide the kinds of questions asked, how those questions are phrased, and which issues deserve the most attention.

The benefits extend to both researchers and community organizations. Researchers gain deeper insight into the context of workers’ lives, while organizations develop research skills—including data collection and evaluation—that strengthen their ability to serve their communities and pursue future projects. Importantly, the information gathered also provides organizations with valuable tools to better support farmworkers. 

Challenges Along the Way 

While CBPR offers many advantages, it is not without challenges. Academic review processes, such as those conducted by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), are not always designed for community-driven research and can create delays. Coordinating schedules and maintaining consistent communication can also be difficult for organizations that already carry heavy workloads. 

Language and communication present additional challenges. Materials must not only be translated into Spanish but also adapted to reflect cultural context. In some cases, researchers’ methods and community organizations’ priorities do not align perfectly, requiring flexibility and compromise. 

Looking Ahead 

Despite these challenges, the benefits of CBPR far outweigh the difficulties. The approach ensures that research is ethical, culturally relevant, and sustainable. Most importantly, it guarantees that the people most affected by policy changes are actively involved in shaping the questions, processes, and solutions. As PCUN reflected: 

“Our voice was not only present but sought out and respected. This only works when those most impacted are at the center, shaping the questions, the process, and the solutions.” 

At its core, CBPR fosters a balance of academic expertise and lived experience, creating a richer and more meaningful understanding of how policy impacts real lives.

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Interested in conducting CBPR research? A few key resources:

• CBPR Overview and Example

• CBPR 101

• Community Research Toolbox