Has Any of This Happened to YOU?
The Federal illegal types of discrimination committed by employers against employees when hiring, on the job, promoting, and terminating are below. If more than one person is discriminated against or harassed in the same way by the same employer, a Class Action Lawsuit can also be considered (see our next section on Class Action Lawsuits).
Age Discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) less favorably because of his age. The Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) forbids discrimination against individuals who are age 40 or over. It is also unlawful to harass a person because of his or her age.
Disability Discrimination occurs when an employer or other entity covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, or the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, treats a qualified individual with a disability who is an employee or applicant unfavorably because s/he has a disability.
Equal Pay/Compensation Discrimination. The Equal Pay Act requires that men and women in the same workplace be given equal pay for equal work. The jobs need not be identical, but they must be substantially equal.
Genetic Information Discrimination. Under Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), which prohibits genetic information discrimination in employment, it is illegal to discriminate against employees or applicants because of genetic information.
Harassment. Harassment is a form of employment discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Harassment is unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
National Origin Discrimination. The law forbids discrimination regarding national origin when it comes to any aspect of employment. It is unlawful to harass a person because of his or her national origin.
Pregnancy Discrimination. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) forbids discrimination based on pregnancy when it comes to any aspect of employment.
Race and Color Discrimination involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because he/she is of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with race (such as hair texture, skin color, or certain facial features). Color discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because of skin color complexion.
Religious Discrimination involves treating a person (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of his or her religious beliefs.
Retaliation. It is illegal to fire, demote, harass, or otherwise “retaliate” against people (applicants or employees) because they filed a charge of discrimination because they complained to their employer or other covered entity about discrimination on the job, or because they participated in an employment discrimination proceeding (such as an investigation or lawsuit).
Sex (Gender) Discrimination in violation of Title VII involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of that person’s sex, whether that person is transgender (gender identity discrimination), lesbian, gay, or bisexual.
Our experienced Iowa lawyers specializing in Labor and Employment Law would be happy to help you explore your options and, most importantly, take the right actions to prove YOUR case. Contact us today!
Discrimination Laws Specific to Iowa
These Types of Employers: public and private employers, employment agencies, labor organizations
Discrimination Prohibited Based On: age, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, genetic test unrelated to occupation, HIV testing, submission to a polygraph or drug test except for peace or corrections officers
CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS
Employers must obey state laws regarding the following: equal pay, minimum wage, minimum overtime wage, meals and rest breaks, final paycheck, paying accrued vacation time or PTO (Paid Time Off) at severance of employment, and sick time. If your employer has violated any of these laws and it’s just you, you should contact your state Department of Labor and make a complaint. You should also contact us to find a Labor and Employment lawyer because if s/he takes your case, they can demand that the Employer turn over all pertinent employee records to see if other employees are being treated unfairly too. If this is found, the lawyer can request to try the case as a Class Action lawsuit with you as the primary plaintiff. If you already KNOW that your employer treats other employees this way too, definitely contact us to speak with an Iowa Sexual Harassment and Employment attorney!
Here are the standards for Iowa:
Equal Pay for Equal Work: Compensation is to be based on comparable worth (I.C.A. § 70A.18). Wage discrimination is prohibited in employment (I.C.A. § 216.6A).
Minimum Wage: $7.25
Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees: $4.35 (see below)
Iowa Under 20 Minimum Wage – $4.25 – Federal law allows any employer in Iowa to pay a new employee who is under 20 years of age a training wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment.
Iowa Student Minimum Wage – $6.16 – Full-time high school or college students who work part-time may be paid 85% of the Iowa minimum wage (as little as $6.16 per hour) for up to 20 hours of work at certain employers.
Iowa Tipped Minimum Wage – $4.35 – Employees who earn a certain amount of tips every month may be paid a special cash minimum wage, but must earn at least $7.25 including tips every hour.
Additional Information on Minimum Wage: The Iowa minimum wage is automatically replaced with the Federal Minimum Wage rate if it is becomes higher than the State minimum. Most small businesses grossing under $300,000 yearly do not have to pay the minimum wage, and employers are allowed to pay less then the Iowa minimum wage for the first 90 days of employment (as a “training period”). Tipped employees in Iowa must be paid at least 60% of the applicable minimum wage.
Minimum Overtime Wage: $10.88. This figure is based on the minimum wage. If you earn more than the minimum wage, you must be paid at least 1.5 times your regular hourly wage for overtime. If you are paid on a salary basis, not on an hourly basis, your employer must break down your annual salary into the hourly rate it equals and pay you at least 1.5 times that figure for overtime. (Exception: if you are an Exempt employee rather than a Non-Exempt employee, you are not eligible for overtime.)
Overtime Begins: There is no daily overtime limit. Weekly overtime is after 40 hours in a single week.
Meal and Rest Breaks: (only applies to minors) There are no general meal and break rules in Iowa.
If a minor under 16 is employed for a period of five hours or more each day, an intermission of at least 30 minutes must be given.
Final Paycheck Deadline(s):
If an employee is fired: next scheduled payday.
If an employee quits: next scheduled payday. (Iowa Code Ann. § 91A.4)
Accrued Vacation Pay at Time of Severance From Employment: Unused vacation must be paid if employer policy is to pay. (It is a good idea to KEEP Company Handbooks, Job Offer Letters, and any other written or emailed references to accrued vacation pay in case you need these documents for proof upon termination.)
Paid/Unpaid Sick Time: No statute.
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If you are the victim of discrimination or any of the above violations of employment law have affected you and your coworkers, contact us to be connected with a Labor and Employment attorney near you in Iowa today!
If you or someone you know needs an Iowa employment law lawyer call 1-800-672-3103 or visit USAttorneys.com to speak to an Iowa employment attorney today.
