Over the past eight weeks, serving your legal needs while working remotely to maintain the health and safety of our clients and employees has been our firm’s main focus during COVID-19. As of June 1st, Dickinson Law will begin a phased approach to reopening our offices, with a portion of our attorneys and administrative staff resuming work at our headquarters in downtown Des Moines. This approach is consistent with current governmental recommendations and allows us…

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) was signed into law on March 18, 2020, and took effect on April 1, 2020. In the intervening 14 days, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor issued and revised various guidance documents on its website that interpret the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSL”) and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (“EFMLEA”) provisions of the FFCRA.  The most recent substantive…

With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, Des Moines, Iowa schools are currently closed through April 13. As of the date of this blog, it is unknown whether state-wide school closures will be extended indefinitely for the school year. If school never returns to session, does that mean summer visitation starts early? What about a visitation order that permits parents to have a Sunday overnight if there is no school the next day? Does that…

Under the recently Coronavirus Relief Bill that was passed by the Senate, and is expected to pass the House and be signed by the President, a new Paycheck Protection Program has been introduced which will provide small businesses (500 or less employees), and includes sole proprietorships, non-profits and charities, the ability to obtain loans to cover eligible expenses during the Coronavirus epidemic. For multi-location and franchisees, the employee limit is per location, and franchise restrictions…

Many organizations have transitioned the bulk of their staff to working from home. While this may reduce the threat posed by COVID-19, it presents new risks for organizations of all kinds and sizes. We have covered numerous cases of fraudsters using email phishing to take advantage of unsuspecting organizations. Fraudsters have become adept at tricking organizations into redirecting vendor payments to fraudster bank accounts. With so many people reliant on email communication, organizations should keep…

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many Iowa employers in uncharted waters. Join Jill Jensen-Welch and Melissa Schilling, two shareholder employment attorneys of Dickinson Law, this Friday, March 27th from Noon to 1:30 p.m. for a webinar on Mandated Emergency Leaves. If you have less than 500 employees, you won’t want to miss this free, informational session covering mandates in the law. REGISTER TODAY.  …

On March 25, 2020, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor issued the poster/notice required to be posted by covered private sector employers (i.e., those with fewer than 500 employees) under the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act.”  A copy is available here.  The DOL also issued a “Frequently Asked Questions” about the notices, which is available here.  It reminds covered private sector employers that they are required (“must”) post…