Employment At-Will: Iowa
Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.
Authors: Stuart R. Buttrick and Tareen Zafrullah, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Summary
- Employment relationships in Iowa are presumed to be at-will, meaning the employment relationship can be terminated by either party, at any time, with or without cause. See The At-Will Relationship.
- Iowa recognizes limited exceptions to the at-will presumption, including written and verbal contracts and public policy exceptions. See Employment At-Will Exceptions.
- At-will employees in Iowa challenging a discharge may file claims against their employers under tort theories, including intentional infliction of emotional distress and defamation, so long as the plaintiff-employee is able to satisfy an evidentiary burden. See Tort Considerations.