Part of standing up for yourself is educating yourself. The Fiedler Law blog goes in-depth on issues from within our practice areas, from our team. Take time to read about topics that may affect you or issues you are dealing with.
In 2007, the Iowa Civil Rights Act (Iowa Code Chapter 216) was expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected classes in our state’s civil rights laws. This made it illegal to discriminate against a person because of his/her actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Now, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (the federal civil… Read More
Keep readingOne of the foundations of our justice system is that no one is above the law. Each of us is held responsible for our own actions. If I get distracted while I’m driving and rear-end the car in front of me, I have to pay for the damage. If I hurt somebody, either negligently or on purpose, I’m liable to them for everything they’ve lost…. Read More
Keep reading“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. Americans, we can do better. We must do better. Silence is not an option. For the last week, we have seen images of George Floyd plastered across our television screens and social media feeds. Many of us cried out in anger as… Read More
Keep readingIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The FFCRA can be broken down into two sections. The FMLA amendments are in the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) and the new paid sick leave law is under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA). Both laws apply to private employers with fewer than 500 employees… Read More
Keep readingThis is a difficult time, even without anxiety over whether you will be able to pay your bills. Many people believe that you have to be, well, unemployed in order to qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Iowa. Fortunately, that is not the case. Due to the threat of COVID-19, on March 17, Governor Reynolds issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency, ordering gyms, bars,… Read More
Keep readingCOVID-19 is here. Over the last week, we’ve seen just a glimpse of how life will change in the coming weeks and months. March Madness, St. Patrick’s Day Parades, concerts, and schools have been cancelled. Although difficult, these are steps in the right direction to limit the spread of a virus that could cripple our healthcare system and put our loved ones at risk. Many… Read More
Keep readingI’m an older person who is highly qualified and looking to change jobs, but for some reason, businesses don’t seem interested in me. I’m starting to think it’s my age. What should I do? Unfortunately, you are not alone. Starting a new job or new career later in life is daunting enough without the prospect of being treated differently because of your age. Under state… Read More
Keep readingI’m expecting my first child in July, and one of the most common questions people ask me is how much maternity leave I am taking. Luckily, our firm has great maternity and paternity leave policies, and I’ll be able to bring my son to work with me! But this question does highlight that many companies are not as family-friendly and working moms are often put… Read More
Keep readingI’m being bullied at work and I think my job has become a hostile work environment. People aren’t treating me with respect and it’s affecting my work. Can you help? We see a lot of complaints about a “hostile work environment.” This makes sense—many workplaces can feel hostile. However, whether you have a harassment claim often depends on (1) why you are being bullied or… Read More
Keep reading“I filed my civil rights complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission (“ICRC”) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), my claim is being investigated, and more than 60 days has elapsed. I have the option of requesting my Right-to-Sue letter now. Should I wait to hire an attorney until after I receive my Right-to-Sue letter?” The short answer is no. First, your civil rights… Read More
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