Category Employment & Labor (3)

COVID-19 Update: Presidential Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants

By BrownWinick | 04.23.2020
Summary The highly anticipated Presidential Proclamation which suspends entry of certain immigrants during the economic recovery period of COVID-19 has been signed and will be effective at 11:59 pm today, April 23, 2020. In short, the suspension affects a limited group of foreign nationals – those who are outside the United States and without a... Read More

COVID-19 – Additional Employer Funding Sources

By Cynthia Boyle Lande | 04.09.2020
Many businesses are asking questions about new SBA loans available under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Oftentimes businesses are not aware of other new resources available in the form of refundable advance tax credits — reimbursing the cost of employee wages paid in connection with COVID-19. In many cases, the credits available can exceed... Read More

H-1B Lottery Concluded – Petitions May Be Filed Beginning April 1

By BrownWinick | 04.03.2020
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced earlier this week that the H-1B electronic registration process and the FY2021 lottery has concluded. Employers are now eligible to file a FY2021 H-1B cap-subject petition — provided they electronically registered the beneficiary in the H-1B registration process, and the registration was... Read More

DOL Issues Much Anticipated Guidance for FFCRA Paid Leave Requirements

By Danielle Smid | 04.01.2020
Today, the US Department of Labor announced its much anticipated temporary rule, providing regulations to implement the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). These temporary paid leave laws are intended to help workers forced to grapple with... Read More

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

By BrownWinick | 03.31.2020
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?

By BrownWinick | 03.31.2020
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

By BrownWinick | 03.31.2020
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

By BrownWinick | 03.30.2020
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

By BrownWinick | 03.28.2020
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

By BrownWinick | 03.28.2020
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

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