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.
When thinking about LGBTQ Pride month, the first thing that may come to mind is the display of beautiful rainbow flags, exciting events, and messages of love and support. But do you know how this month got its start? Over 50 years ago – yes, the time before smartphones and before the Beatles broke up – there was an event…
Happy Pride Month! We are constantly amazed by our LGBTQ+ clients and allies that have the courage and tenacity to take a stand when they see injustice. James Sargent is someone we are particularly proud of. James always dreamed of working within the Polk County Medical Examiner’s office (“PCME”). He had the requisite skills, education, and experience to excel there.…
Election Day is around the corner. Do you have a voting plan? Polling Place. Do you know where to vote? If not, confirm your polling place here. Voting Times. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. statewide. Voter Registration. Are you registered to vote? If so, great work! You can skip this section. If not, do not worry. Iowa allows…
Across the country, teachers are facing a difficult decision between returning to the classrooms and potentially putting their lives at risk or foregoing their career. This is an especially scary situation for our immunocompromised educators. What options do teachers have? First, if a teacher has a disability (like diabetes or cystic fibrosis), he or she can make a formal request…
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…
One 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…
In 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…
This 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…
COVID-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…
I’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…