BW INSIGHTS

Proposed Overtime Rule: What Employers Need to Know

By Danielle Smid | 09.18.2023

The U.S. Department of Labor is shaking up the employment landscape with a proposed rule that’s set to benefit approximately 3.6 million salaried workers. This rule, proposed on August 30, 2023, seeks to expand overtime protections, ensuring overtime compensation for those who’ve been working long hours without extra pay. In this blog post, we’ll... Read More

Minnesota Passes Paid Family and Medical Leave: Effective in 2026

By Danielle Smid | 08.09.2023

Paid Family and Medical Leave On May 25, 2023, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a Paid Family and Medical Leave bill (HF 2). The law provides employees with up to 20 weeks of paid family or medical leave per year. The leave program will be administered by a new division of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development: The... Read More

Updates to Form I-9 Effective August 1, 2023

By Danielle Smid | 07.27.2023

The U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services is set to publish a revised Form I-9 on August 1, 2023. The old Form I-9 may be used through October 31, 2023, after which employers will be subject to penalties. The revised Form I-9 follows from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizing the end of temporary Covid policies that allowed for... Read More

Dept. of Labor Offering $15M in Grants to Address Workforce Challenges in Critical Sectors: What Iowa Employers Need to Know Before Applying

By Danielle Smid | 07.12.2023

On May 17, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the availability of $15 million in grants to help address challenges the workforce system faces in training people for good jobs in critical sectors including care, climate resiliency, and hospitality. The program was designed to improve job quality and the availability of good jobs,... Read More

Key Immigration Considerations in Mergers and Acquisitions

By Danielle Smid | 07.06.2023

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have become common strategies for companies seeking growth, market expansion, or increased competitiveness. However, M&A activity is typically complex, high value and long-term in nature. It is therefore vital that both buyer and seller understand the full range of obligations, liabilities, risks and opportunities... Read More

Child Labor Regulations Relaxed in Iowa

By Danielle Smid | 06.16.2023

On May 26, 2023, Iowa experienced a significant development in its child labor laws as Governor Kim Reynolds signed a new bill into law. This legislation, which had previously cleared the state legislature (House 60-34, Senate 29-18), was submitted to Governor Reynolds for her final approval on May 3, 2023. The newly enacted law modifies existing... Read More

Non-Compete Agreements Facing Additional Challenges

By Danielle Smid | 06.06.2023

On May 24, 2023, Governor Walz signed into law a significant change to the enforceability of employee covenants not to compete. In any employment agreement entered into on or after July 1, 2023, post-employment covenants not to compete will be void and unenforceable. Iowa employers conducting business with Minnesota employees, including remote... Read More

EEOC Provides Guidance on Employers Using AI in the Workplace

By Danielle Smid | 05.24.2023

The convenience and efficiency of utilizing Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) to hire employees, observe performance, and make decisions about pay and promotion opportunities could run your business into issues with Title VII, if the employer does not have sufficient oversight measures in place to monitor these tools effects. On May 18, 2023, the... Read More

NLRB Returns to Previous Precedent for Employee Severance Agreements

By Danielle Smid | 03.30.2023

On February 21, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a decision in McLaren Macomb, returning to previous precedent holding that employers may not offer employees severance agreements that require employees to broadly waive their rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The decision involved severance agreements... Read More

No More Non-Competes? What Pending Laws May Mean for Employment in Iowa

By Danielle Smid | 02.23.2023

There’s a good chance that if you’re reading this, you’re currently subject to a non-compete provision. Non-compete provisions or agreements are notorious in that they have a complicated and long history within labor and employment law. For instance, in England circa 1414, an apprentice promised to refrain from practicing his trade for 6 months in... Read More