BW INSIGHTS

Iowa Supreme Court Clarifies Iowa Civil Rights Act Individual Liability, Disability Discrimination, Failure to Accommodate, and Retaliation Standards

By BrownWinick | 06.28.2021
On Friday, June 25th, the Iowa Supreme Court filed a decision addressing several issues under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. In Rumsey v. Woodgrain Millwork, Inc., a discharged employee filed disability discrimination and retaliation claims against his former employer. The employee was injured at work in early 2015, and the employer provided the... Read More

Iowa Supreme Court Decides Key Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing Law Questions, Provides Leniency to Iowa Businesses

By BrownWinick | 06.25.2021
This morning, Friday, June 25, 2021, the Iowa Supreme Court filed decisions in two cases involving Iowa’s private sector drug and alcohol testing law. Under the decisions, Iowa employers will not be held liable for violating Iowa’s private sector drug and alcohol testing law so long as they “substantially comply” with the provisions of the law.... Read More

OSHA Issues Emergency Standard for Health Care

By BrownWinick | 06.22.2021
On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) establishing heightened COVID-19 workplace safety regulations for most healthcare providers in the United States. In addition to workplace safety requirements, the ETS also reincarnates mandatory paid time off for employees,... Read More

New EEOC Guidance on Vaccinations

By Danielle Smid | 06.21.2021
As Americans continue to be vaccinated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to CDC recommendations, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) updated its COVID-19 guidance on May 28, 2021, regarding employers and COVID-19 vaccines. The new EEC guidance on vaccinations update is in the form of Q&As relating to mandatory... Read More

OSHA Issues New Standards for Healthcare Employers and Updated its Guidance for Non-Healthcare Employers Regarding COVID-19

By Danielle Smid | 06.13.2021
On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health and Administration (OSHA) issued new standards for healthcare employers and updated its guidance for non-healthcare employers regarding COVID-19. For non-healthcare employers, the updated guidance relies on and is consistent with the CDC’s recent recommendations that fully vaccinated people may... Read More

State of Iowa Ending Participation in COVID-Related Unemployment Programs Next Month

By BrownWinick | 05.12.2021
Citing a strong labor market, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced yesterday that on June 12, 2021, the state will be ending its participation in federal COVID-related unemployment benefit programs. These enhanced unemployment benefits were made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act of 2020, and provide... Read More

Pandemic Poses Potential Re-Entry Problems for Lawful Permanent Residents Abroad

By BrownWinick | 05.03.2021
We are now several weeks beyond the one-year anniversary of the declaration by the World Health Organization recognizing COVID-19 as a global pandemic. While historic vaccine rollout accelerates across the United States, worldwide vaccine distribution efforts display inequities elsewhere. Moreover, travel restrictions, lockdowns, quarantine orders... Read More

IWD Adopts New Rule in Response to COVID-19 and the Federal CARES Act

By Casey Alesch | 03.23.2021
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) has adopted a new rule in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the federal CARES Act that requires employers to notify their employees of the availability of unemployment insurance upon separation or a reduction of hours. Prior to the emergency enactment of this new rule in August of 2020, Iowa employers were... Read More

    Filter

      Subscribe Now