December 2026 Iowa Q&A roundup

Q           We have a salaried employee who has given his two-week notice. Although we’ve decided to let him go earlier, must we still pay him for the two weeks he was willing to work?

This depends on your circumstances, including whether you have a policy that provides that if you waive the notice period, you’ll still pay all wages. In most areas, you can waive notice, and you wouldn’t be required to pay for the unworked notice time. 

Many states will allow employees to apply for and receive unemployment if they’re “let go” or asked to leave early for the unpaid notice time. For exempt employees, actual wages owed for initial and terminal weeks of employment are just for the actual time worked, which is a deviation from the standard salary basis requirements. However, many employers pay through the day or even the week in which they terminate an exempt employee.

Q          One of our employees travels from home to various locations within a 50-mile radius as needed. Is travel to and from the worksite, where the shift begins and ends, considered commute time, or is it compensable?