New benefit notices required for employees terminated, furloughed during pandemic

Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) is requiring employers to provide notice of the benefits available to employees who were terminated or furloughed because of COVID-19.

How we got here

Throughout the pandemic, it has been easy to lose track of all the new employment-related requirements and emergency administrative rule changes. In particular, you may have overlooked new unemployment compensation notices required by the IWD.

To comply with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and as a precursor to obtaining federal funds on an emergency basis, the IWD changed Iowa Administrative Code Section 871-22.19. The upshot is employers must now provide a notice about the availability of agency benefits to employees who were terminated because of COVID-19 as well as those who became “unemployed” while on furlough.

The notification provides basic information including how the former employees can contact IWD. It also lists the types of information the agency will collect as part of any unemployment insurance claim, including addresses, Social Security numbers, employment start and end dates, and similar data.

Bottom line

When you terminate or transition employees to furlough, there are numerous forms and notices you must provide to them. Be sure the IWD’s new notice is on your checklist.