Category Employment & Labor (3)

What Would a Shelter-in-Place Order Look Like for Iowa?

As of today, Iowa is not under a shelter-in-place order. Governor Kim Reynolds has declined to issue a shelter-in-place order, but it may be coming. Cedar Rapids Mayor, Brad Hart, has urged Governor Reynolds to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order and has contemplated issuing a local order and Des Moines Mayor, Frank Cownie, has urged Des... Read More

Are You Exposing Your Business to the Risk of Coronavirus-Related Litigation?

We’re in the midst of dealing with COVID-19 and if you’re like many Iowa businesses, you’re just trying to keep up with the daily changes and problems the pandemic is bringing. But what about after the pandemic? Will there be a wave of Coronavirus-related litigation? How do you know if you’re exposing yourself now to the risk of litigation later?... Read More

COVID-19 and Essential Service Personnel Guidance

The Iowa Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) provided guidance last week related to COVID-19 isolation requirements for essential service personnel. Essential services personnel include: Healthcare providers; Law enforcement; Fire & EMS personnel; Long-Term Care personnel; Residential Support Facility personnel; and Public Health & Emergency... Read More

Iowa Workforce Development Changes Policy on Unemployment Benefits and PTO

Iowa Workforce Development announced today that effective immediately, employees who are or will be laid off, or are unable to work for COVID-19-related reasons, will not be required to use all available paid leave before becoming eligible to receive Iowa unemployment benefits. This change is not retroactive and claims will not be backdated. This... Read More

Intermittent Leave and Non-Enforcement Period

More Answers Regarding Paid Leaves for Employees Intermittent Leave Allowed The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) provided an update to its “Questions and Answers” document regarding intermittent paid leave found here: Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers Under “normal” FMLA leaves,... Read More

No Work, No Paid Leave — Answers to Questions Plaguing Employers

Employers have — finally — gotten some guidance from the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on important questions affecting the serious decisions they are facing. There are still no regulations for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, but the WHD has been continually updating information it has provided in... Read More

Employers May Apply for the Voluntary Shared Work Program

Employers may apply for the Voluntary Shared Work Program which permits employers to seek an alternative to layoffs — retaining their trained employees by reducing their hours and wages that can be partially offset with unemployment insurance benefits. Employees who remain employed, even part time, under this program, would not be required to... Read More

Webinar: COVID-19 & Unemployment Law changes in Iowa

Click HERE to view webinar BrownWinick attorney Dani Smid explains the changes to unemployment law in Iowa due to the impact of COVID-19. Dani Joins Daniel Beenken from Advance Iowa & the UNI Center for Business Growth and Innovation. Read More

COVID-19 Immigration Q&A for Employers

What impact does “work-from-home” and “social distancing” have on my foreign labor force? Many non-immigrant visas (H-1B, L-1, TN, O, P, R, etc.) are tied to particular work-sites and activities performed at specific locations. Employers that are asking their employees to work from home may need to file new Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) or... Read More