Q: An employee on FMLA leave has simply not returned her medical certification. What next?
A: If an employee does not return the required medical certification within 15 calendar days, you can decline to extend FMLA protections and the employee would then be managed under your standard absenteeism policy. But this comes with a big “be careful” warning. Particularly now, with unpredictable medical resources due to the pandemic, employees may have a hard time getting certifications, especially if the certification is needed from a specialist such as a mental health provider.
In order to manage that risk, you may want to send a follow-up letter giving some additional time to certify and letting the employee know the specific consequences of failing to provide the documentation.
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Update: On Monday, January 25, the Governor introduced another bill, SSB1065, which establishes a student first scholarship program for certain pupils attending nonpublic schools.
The legislature did not meet on Monday in honor of the MLK Jr. holiday. Legislators returned to the Capitol Tuesday morning with an increased presence of uniformed and non-uniformed officers, due to potential security concerns related to the inauguration of President-elect Biden.
Bills are being introduced at a rapid pace and subcommittees are hearing bills both in-person and virtually. Only a handful of bills moved through House committees this week, but we can expect committee work to pick up next week in both chambers. The House debated its first bill of the year on Thursday afternoon.
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Within hours of being inaugurated on January 20, President Joe Biden signed several executive orders, including one which directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
to extend the September 4 CDC Order, which temporarily halted certain residential nonpayment evictions, through
March 31, 2021. It was previously set to expire on January 31. President Biden also asked Congress to approve a COVID relief bill that would provide an additional $35 billion in rent, utilities, and homeless relief.
Shortly thereafter, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky formally announced that the CDC Order was extended until at least March 31, stating:
Q: I have been notified to attend a deposition. What should I expect? A: A deposition is usually a live and in-person exchange of information between the person being.
Iowa Executive Branch Update
Governor Reynolds delivered the Condition of the State speech on Tuesday, January 12, at 6:00 p.m., breaking with the normal tradition of a morning joint convention. Governor Reynolds opened by addressing the challenges of 2020 - COVID-19, civil unrest, a drought, a derecho and she commended Iowans and their response to the challenges of 2020.
Highlights:
Increasing spending by 3.7% in FY2022 to $8.079 billion and by 2.3% in FY2023 to $8.275 billion (FY2022 increase includes the increased federal spending for Medicaid in the state)
Increasing mental health funding by $15 million over the next two years
Increasing school spending by 2.5% ($27 million) in 2022-2023 and by $143 million in 2023-2024 (additional $20 million for pandemic aid)