Employment Law in Des Moines, IA

If you have suffered treatment from an employer in Des Moines, Iowa that violates employment laws, learning more about the law can help. Hiring an employment law attorney can best help you navigate the process, and increase the chances of winning your case.

What Is Employment Law?

Employment law covers the rights, responsibilities, and obligations within the employer-employee relationship. Employment lawyers serve both employees and employers, though they generally focus their practice on serving one or the other. Regardless of who their clients are, their goal is to present a solid case and defend them.

Understanding Employment Law Labor Rights in Des Moines, Iowa

Employees have a wide range of rights that employers cannot violate. If employers violate these rights, workers can file a complaint against them. Each state has unique labor laws and some also make provisions for qualifying independent contractors. Below are the most common topics covered in employment law across the country.

Wage and Hour Laws

Laws protect non-exempt employees from being forced to work for low wages and a certain amount of hours without increased pay. These are the wage and hour laws. They outline the minimum wages an employee can earn as well as the maximum amount of hours worked before qualifying employees should get paid overtime.

Iowa, like every other state, has unique wage and hour laws. However, there are federal laws in place that are minimum requirements for all states. For example, the federal minimum wage is $7.25, but most states exceed that amount.

The Fair Labor Standards Act states that non-exempt employees can only work 40 hours per week at their regular wage rates. If they exceed that number, the employer must pay them overtime rates at a minimum of time and a half. Some states also require weekend overtime pay, holiday pay, and overtime for working more than a certain number of hours each day.

Iowa Minimum Wage Law dictates that Des Moines employers pay a minimum of $7.25 per hour. However, for the first 90 days of employment, an initial hourly wage of $6.35 is allowed. Furthermore, tipped employees can be paid an hourly minimum of $4.35. Des Moines employers must be able to show that tips combined with wages total at least $7.25 per hour.

Additionally, hourly Des Moines employees who work more than 40 hours in a week are entitled to overtime pay. Specifically, any hours worked in excess of 40 are compensated at 1½ times the regular rate. This means that the minimum overtime rate in Des Moines is $10.88.

Workers’ Compensation

If you’ve been injured on the job in Des Moines, IA you might be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This includes payments for lost wages and past or future medical bills that resulted from your workplace injury.

In order to be eligible for workers’ compensation, you must meet these requirements:

  • You must be an employee.
  • You must have a work-related illness or injury.
  • Your employer must carry workers’ comp insurance.
  • You must meet the deadline for filing workers’ comp claims.

There are, however, exceptions to these requirements that may still make you eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, if your employer is denying you benefits, you should contact a qualified Des Moines attorney for assistance with your case.

Termination Rights under Des Moines, Iowa Employment Law

If you live in an at-will state, or your employment is “at-will,” meaning you can be terminated from your job without notice and without cause. However, even at-will employees have rights when it comes to termination. A violation of those rights can be wrongful termination.

Here are some reasons your termination might be wrongful even if you are an at-will employee:

  • Written promises or contracts
  • Implied promises
  • Violations of public policy
  • Breaches of good faith and fair dealing
  • Workplace retaliation
  • Discrimination
  • Defamation
  • Fraud
  • Whistleblowing violations

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Iowa became a right-to-work state in 1947. This means your Des Moines employer cannot require you to pay union dues as a condition of your employment. According to Iowa State University, Des Moines employment recognizes at-will employment. This means the employment relationship by either party in Des Moines can end without notice or reason. Simply put, right-to-work is about hiring conditions, and at-will is about firing conditions.

If you believe your termination was wrongful due to the above circumstances, then contact an experienced Des Moines, IA employment law attorney right away. This is because there are time constraints on how long you can wait to file a claim.

Unemployment Benefits

If you’ve lost your job, you can file for unemployment benefits with the state unemployment agency. The agency will either approve or deny your claim. Then, after approval, you’ll receive monthly unemployment checks and benefits in the mail after filing weekly unemployment claims. Still, unemployment claims can be denied for a number of reasons, including:

  • If you were fired for misconduct.
  • You voluntarily quit your job.
  • You do not have enough earnings during the work period.

If your claim is denied, you can appeal the decision if you think it’s the wrong choice. Work with a qualified Des Moines attorney during the appeal process to improve your chances of winning the case.

Paid and Unpaid Time Off

Some states require paid time off as well as medical and family leave for employees. Oftentimes, this is combined into one singular paid time off, (PTO), amount. Laws can vary state-to-state, but typically PTO is accrued over time and you’ll get a set amount of PTO days per year.

Additionally, some states have laws that force the employer to pay for unused PTO. If you are not given proper PTO or your employer doesn’t follow your state’s medical or family leave laws, you can file a complaint.

According to the Iowa Division of Labor, there are no state laws requiring a Des Moines employer to offer any PTO. This includes both sick leave and holiday leave. However, Des Moines employers have to provide unpaid time off to respond to a jury duty notice or serve as a witness in a legal proceeding. In addition, some Des Moines employees may be eligible for unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

Child Labor Laws

Child labor laws are a lot more strict than regular labor laws and require employers to be extra careful when scheduling minors. Each state has its own child labor laws that outline the number of hours a minor can work per week. These include how often they should have breaks, how many days in a row they can work, and how late they can work each night.

Iowa’s Child Labor laws place restrictions on the occupations and working conditions of Des Moines minors. The minimum age for employment is 14 in most situations, in line with federal law. As well 14 and 15-year-olds must have work permits, while 16 and 17-year-olds do not require them. Furthermore, all minors cannot work in hazardous jobs such as working in logging, mining, and anything to do with explosives.

Des Moines, Iowa Employment Anti Discrimination Laws

A collection of federal anti-discrimination laws protect workers from employment discrimination. Following are brief descriptions of some of these anti-discrimination acts:

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act: Prohibits employers from selecting job applicants and employees based on race, religion, color, sex, and national origin.
  • Age Discrimination Act: Prohibits discrimination based on age for employees over the age of 40 years old.
  • Pregnancy Discrimination Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating based on pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating against people with disabilities at any time during the application or hiring process or once the person holds the job.
  • Equal Pay Act: Requires employers to give men and women equal pay for equal work.

Sexual Harassment

If a coworker, employer, or client sexually harasses someone in the workplace; the employee has a set of rights to protect them from further harassment. Laws also offer protection from retaliation, such as getting fired for reporting a manager. If you or someone you know is facing sexual harassment in the workplace, report it to your HR department.

Under Iowa law, sexual harassment in the workplace is expressly prohibited in Des Moines. The law covers both types of sexual harassment, quid pro quo and hostile environment. Some of the prohibited behaviors include unsolicited and unwanted sexual advances, and dress code requirements unrelated to employment duties. Additionally, retaliation for rejecting sexual advances is also against the law.

The Des Moines Register recently reported that an Iowa Department of Human Services employee was awarded $790,000 in damages. The sexual harassment lawsuit claimed the Department’s workplace was rife with lewd, inappropriate behavior, and hiring and promotion decisions based on attractiveness.

Work With an Experienced Employment Lawyer in Des Moines,  Iowa

If you have employment law concerns, or you’re currently preparing for a case in Des Moines, IA then working with an experienced attorney can help. The hard part is finding the right one. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Iowa state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

How It All Works

Call us or answer the questions on this site. Your category, location, and additional information will help us connect you to a legal professional and we’ll send you the results instantly.

Which Areas of Law?

We have attorneys in over 20 legal categories to choose from.

How Much Does This Cost?

We don’t charge you to be connected. Some legal categories require upfront fees while others do not. The legal professional will determine this with you before you commit to anything.