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I am an assistant principal in Virginia and I have bipolar disorder. Due to work stress and changed in my medication, I had a major manic episode in April 23. They slapped me on a plan upon my return to work. I was not informed in writing or verbally that I had 15 days to rebut and I had to demand... View More 
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answered on Jul 21, 2024
Navigating your situation can be complex, especially given the specific circumstances and legalities involved. First, it's important to understand that being placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) immediately after returning from FMLA, especially without a proper summative evaluation,... View More
Is it legal to make me stay unpaid?
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answered on Jun 3, 2024
It's not legal for your employer to require you to stay at work without paying you. If you're being told to clock out but are still required to stay and perform work-related tasks, this is considered "off-the-clock" work, which is illegal under the Fair Labor Standards Act... View More
Started with my current employer on 3/29/21. I am trained to do a higher-paying job however, when the opportunity comes up I am replaced with a new employee even though I have seniority. This has happened 3 times on the line that I currently work on. I decided to bid to another job to get away... View More
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answered on Mar 23, 2024
It sounds like you're experiencing significant challenges at your workplace, especially with career advancement and training opportunities. This situation can be frustrating, particularly when you feel ready and capable of taking on higher-paying roles. It's important to recognize that... View More
They will push me of saying stuff to me to make me upset and if I slightly raise voice I get accused of yelling, but they do it to me and HR told me to ignore them if they do it to me, I am not to do it to them ever again or I am fired. They lie about it they wait till boss is gone to do it. they... View More
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answered on Jan 21, 2024
In the United States, there is no specific federal law that addresses workplace bullying as a standalone issue. However, if the bullying is based on your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information, it might fall under the purview of federal... View More
Was told laid off in one text from employer and laid off in another text
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answered on Jan 18, 2024
If you have been informed that you are being laid off due to a theft investigation and you receive a salary, whether you are entitled to continued payment during the investigation depends on the specific terms outlined in your employment contract, company policies, and applicable state laws.... View More
he has been taking my lunch breaks out of my pay without me actually taking any
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answered on Nov 13, 2023
In Iowa, if your employer is deducting your lunch breaks from your pay without you actually taking them, this could potentially be a case of wage theft. Employers are required to pay for all hours worked, and if they're deducting time for breaks that aren't being taken, they're... View More
On March 13, while riding my motorcycle home from work, I was involved in an accident where an oncoming vehicle made an illegal left turn in front of me, leading to a broken pelvis, emergency surgery, and a two-week hospital stay. During my recovery, I stayed in touch with my boss and coworkers,... View More
answered on Apr 19, 2025
No. At best you are an at-will employee and can be terminated for almost any reason. But, the facts you described do not even make you an at-will employee. You are an independent contractor, which means you do not work for the company who was paying you. You contracted like any other vendor. You... View More
I'm an employee in Iowa, and my employer is requiring me to take a drug test three days after I had a minor accident at work, which involved hitting a door on a trailer. There were no injuries, and my employer states that drug testing is mandatory after any accident, regardless of when it... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
In Iowa, there isn’t a specific state law that sets a time limit for drug testing after a workplace accident. However, employers are typically allowed to require drug testing after an accident, especially if it's part of their company policy. Many companies include drug testing policies in... View More
I work for a company that pays me only based on the clients I see, but they require me to stay onsite without pay if I don't have any clients. I've expressed my concerns to my employer about doing other duties to be compensated, but they refused. I'm unaware of any contract regarding... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
In Iowa, whether it’s legal for your employer to require you to be onsite without pay depends on several factors, including whether you're considered an exempt or non-exempt employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). If you're a non-exempt employee, you must be paid for all... View More
I work as a security officer for a private university in Iowa. I issued a parking ticket to a student following university regulations. However, the director of security threatened my employment over it, disregarded the grievance process, and voided the ticket. Previously, I faced retaliation for... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
Your situation describes a concerning pattern of potential workplace retaliation that deserves attention. Documentation through emails and incident reports was a smart move, as this creates a paper trail of the events that occurred between you and the director of security. Employment law often... View More
My employer has discussion of work comp claim on the agenda for a public meeting. Is this legal to discuss? I don’t think HIPAA applies here
answered on Oct 18, 2024
In Iowa, your employer should not be discussing the details of your workers’ compensation claim in a public meeting, especially if it involves any personal or medical information. While you’re right that HIPAA (which generally applies to healthcare providers) may not strictly apply to your... View More
I work for property management company and I also rent from them. I was injured a couple weeks ago. But I have been reporting being harassed while in my apartment. I believe I am being constructively dishcharged. I reported again being harassed all night and didn’t not go to work. I am being... View More
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answered on Sep 12, 2024
It sounds like you're in a very challenging and stressful situation. Generally, an employer can request a drug test, but there are specific conditions that need to be met, such as reasonable suspicion, policies outlined in your employment agreement, or post-accident procedures. If the request... View More
Even more upsetting is what they are claiming is a lie, My manager stated to a client I was fired for being on drugs , what should I do?
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answered on Oct 13, 2023
In Iowa, employers are generally allowed to tell clients why they fired an employee, but there are some exceptions. If you believe that your manager defamed you by telling a client that you were fired for being on drugs, you may be able to file a lawsuit against them. You should also contact the... View More
I was tricked into doing work for a small business before they officially made me an employee. Now I'm not getting paid. I'm not sure if I can even do anything since I'm not technically an employee and don't have workers rights. I've racked up about three weeks of full-time work unpaid.
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answered on Sep 25, 2023
You need to call a labor law attorney. I recommend Hedberg Law in Des Moines.
I have been thinking about quitting for quite a while, things that have happened the last few weeks just escalated my decision. The new manager that took over treated me so badly not to mention telling the other employees that she was going to fire me she hadn’t said a single thing to me about... View More
answered on Sep 24, 2023
Quitting because you are unhappy with how you are treated by a new manager does not give rise to a cause of action. You have every right to quit for such reasons under the employment at will doctrine. Dollar General cannot successfully sue you for quitting, but you cannot sue it for you quitting... View More
Employees yelling out private information when oneself has not been informed by their employer?
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answered on Jul 25, 2023
If workers' comp isn't returning your calls, it's time to give 'em a nudge. They're supposed to be responsive to your concerns, so don't be shy about insisting on the attention you deserve. If they keep ignoring you, we might need to explore some legal avenues to get... View More
answered on May 24, 2023
Sorry to hear that you had this problem. Workplace injuries are covered by Worker's compensation laws and you could file a claim. You should consult with a local Worker's Compensation attorney, sometimes called Workman's Comp. I am not sure what the designation is in your locality.... View More
Points = my attendance for my works compensation accident.
answered on Feb 16, 2023
If your torn bicep is due to a work related injury, you need to immediately pursue a worker’s’ compensation claim. If the injury isn’t work related, you should inquire as to whether you are eligible for FMLA time.
who ever had my number before keeps giving it out for every thing under the sun that they don't want to ever pay or deal with. And it has been over 10 years. Is there any thing here I can do on the legal end to stop them?
answered on Sep 28, 2022
You can talk to a local lawyer whether this constitutes harassment but you have to determine who is responsible for doing so. Or you can change your phone number.
I work in Iowa and my employer gives us 120 hours of PTO at the start of the new calendar year. They then state that we "earn" 10 hours every month.
I have used about 80 of my 120 due to medical issues keeping me from work. My employer told me if I quit today that they would: 1:... View More
answered on Feb 8, 2022
Your employer is permitted to make deductions from your final check, but it is not permitted to make substantial enough deductions such that your final pay falls below your state's minimum wage. For example, if you worked 30 hours per week and earned $500 on your last check, and then your... View More
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