Know Your Rights
In Iowa, as in most states, employment is normally “employment at will.” This generally means that unless you have an employment contract or union protections, your employer has the power to fire you or treat you badly for any reason or for no reason whatsoever. However, an employer cannot fire you for a reason that violates the law. These rights are sometimes called exceptions to employment at will.
In general, an employer cannot allow an employee’s inherent characteristics or the fact that the employee complained about discrimination or harassment to affect decision-making about that employee.
What are the exceptions to at-will employment?
- Discrimination based on your age, sex, race, color, national origin, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity
- Harassment based on any of the above characteristics
- Discrimination or harassment based on your association with someone of a different race (such as having a spouse, boyfriend, or child of another race)
- Retaliation because you have opposed or made a complaint about illegal discrimination or harassment
- Retaliation because you have done something that you are legally obligated or entitled to do, such as file a workers’ compensation claim
If we are able to help you, we will fight for your right to be free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
DEADLINES: Employees cannot protect their rights unless they take some kind of action, like filing a civil rights complaint or a lawsuit, within a reasonable time frame after something bad happens at work. Deadlines for taking action on employment law cases vary by the type of case. They can be as short as 45 days in some cases. You should act as soon as possible to make sure you are not left without a remedy.
All information on our website is meant to be generally informative. To find out whether you may have a case, you should consult an employment or discrimination attorney of your choice.
Want to discuss your rights in better detail? Contact us!
Defending Your Dignity Championing Your Rights
See What Sets Newkirk Zwagerman Apart
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Equity for All
Fighting for your rights, we work towards the fundamental equality of every individual.
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Accountability-Focused
We work to ensure organizations are responsible for creating fair and just workplaces.
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Employee Advocates
We empower our clients to have their voices heard and their rights protected.
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Fostering Inclusion
At our core, we drive positive change through education and implicit bias training.
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