Iowa Maternity Laws
The state of Iowa does not have any state level laws in regards to
maternity leave. Instead Iowa uses the federal laws of the Family and
Medical Leave Act that is designed to help United States citizens keep
their employment while taking necessary personal leave. The Family and
Medical Leave Act allow employees to take a leave of absence from work
to take care of the medical issue of themselves or intermediate family
members.
This act also covers maternity leave and paternity leave. Maternity
leave is designated for employees to care for their newborns or for
adoptive parents to bond with their new children. Such leave under the
Family and Medical Leave Act can last a maximum of twelve weeks and
must be taken continuously and not separated over several months' time.
All of these twelve weeks are to be unpaid. If an individual wishes to
return to employment earlier than twelve weeks, it is at the discretion
of the employer. Employees are only permitted twelve weeks of family or
medical leave a year.
While employees are on maternity leave or leave for medical or family
purposes, an employer has the right to hire a temporary employee to
fill any positions. At times current employees will take on the
responsibilities so that hiring is not a necessity. When the
twelve-week time period has ended, the employee on leave is entitled to
his or her former position or a position of the same salary and
benefits.
It is illegal for an employee on leave to be terminated because he or
she was on leave or is pregnant. If an employer would rather keep a
temporary employee instead of the employee on leave, another position
must be made available or the temporary employee will have to be
terminated.
Iowa Minimum Wage
In 2009 the United States increased its federal minimum wage to seven
dollars and twenty-five cents from its previous five dollars and
fifteen cents. Due to this change all states were required to increase
their minimum wages to at least seven dollars and twenty-five cents.
Some states opted to increase their minimum wages far above this
minimum, while others chose only to meet this mark.
The state of Iowa chose to match the federal minimum wage. The federal
minimum wage does not increase each year, but whenever the wage does
increase, each state is required to follow. Employers may pay employees
more than minimum wage at any time but are not permitted to pay less
than the federal minimum.
All employers are legally bound to pay employees no less than their
state's minimum wage. However employees who receive tips on a regular
basis are allowed to be paid less than the minimum wage as their
acquired tips compensate for the lowered payment. Employees are
entitled to all of their tips and are not required to share any portion
with a manager who has a set salary. When tips are acquired in mass,
employees are to pool the tips and divide them evenly at the end of the
shift.