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Employers' Council of Iowa

Business and Government Working Together 
for a Stronger Iowa

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Next State ECI Board Meeting Date:
Wednesday, November 17
Originating Site – Iowa Workforce Development
Conference Call Meeting - 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Capitol View Room - 1000 E. Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa

If you would like to join the meeting via a conference call, the instructions are:

1. At the specified time, dial the toll free number 1-866-685-1580
2. When prompted, enter conference code followed by #:  0009990910#
3. At the tone, state your name or location followed by #
4. You will then be placed into the conference; if the leader has not joined the conference you will be placed on hold.


The Great Plain ADA Center serves the State of Iowa by providing information and assistance regarding the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) at not cost to any interested party, including employers.

ADA Poster

www.adata.org - 1-800-949-4232

From the Great Plains ADA Center in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the passage of the landmark civil rights legislation, the Americans with Disabilities Act.


Think Beyond the Label is committed to making the business case for employing people with disabilities. We are a partnership of health and human service and employment agencies with federal grants, coming together to build a uniform national infrastructure and approach that connects businesses to qualified candidates with disabilities. Our goal is simple: to raise awareness that hiring people with disabilities makes good business sense. Employees with disabilities have unique, competitively relevant knowledge and perspectives about work processes, bringing different perspectives to meeting work requirements and goals successfully. Hiring someone who “thinks outside the box” might be thinking too small when there’s an opportunity to hire someone who lives outside the box.

Health & Disability Advocates (HDA), is a national nonprofit organization that promotes income security and improved health care access for children, people with disabilities, and low-income older adults. HDA is spearheading the Think Beyond the Label campaign on behalf of more than 40 states and various national and regional organizations by serving as its fiscal agent.

This Web site is Section 508-compliant, and is accessible to people with disabilities.
http://www.thinkbeyondthelabel.com/


HIRE (Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment) Act
Payroll Tax Exemption for Hiring Unemployed Workers

This can give companies a financial incentive to hire a previously unemployed or underemployed worker:
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=220746,00.html


The Employer’s Disability Resource Network (EDRN)

The Employer’s Disability Resource Network (EDRN) partners can provide technical assistance, information, resources, and training to help businesses effectively recruit, hire and retain qualified employees. EDRN can also provide consultation and resources to create a welcoming environment for applicants and employees with disabilities by assuring that facilities are accessible. In addition, EDRN can customize training to fit your needs.
These resources not only assist employers in building a diverse workforce, but they can also enhance a business’ services to customers with disabilities.

Learn more about EDRN by visiting: http://www.edrnetwork.org/ or calling (515) 281-0264.


ODEP Alliance Partner Provides Useful Tips on Making Recruiting Sites Accessible for All

ODEP’s Alliance Partner, The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), has published a comprehensive article about making a key element of the recruiting process accessible to all. http://www.shrm.org/hrdisciplines/Diversity/Articles/Pages/RecruitingSitesAccessible.aspx


The Campaign for Disability Employment

The Campaign for Disability Employment is a collaborative effort to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent they bring to the workplace. http://www.whatcanyoudocampaign.org/blog/index.php/what-can-employers-do/


New Federal GINA Law Takes Effect
On November 21, 2009
Includes Workplace Poster Change

On November 21, 2009, a new federal law titled the “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act” (GINA) will go into effect. Title II of the new law signed on May 21, 2008, prohibits the intentional collection of genetic information about job applicants and employees, and use of genetic information in employment decisions. According to the EEOC, “genetic information” includes, for example, information about an individual’s genetic tests, genetic tests of a family member, and family medical history. Genetic information does not include information about the sex or age of an individual or an individual’s family member, or information that an individual currently has a disease or disorder. Title I of the law also includes strict confidentiality requirements for handling of genetic information.

Title I of GINA amends portions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code, and addresses the use of genetic information in health insurance. Additional information on this aspect of GINA is available at the following link: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda_geneticinfo.html.

Lastly, another portion of the GINA law amends the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to allow the federal Department of Labor to assess penalties of up to $50,000 for each child labor violation that causes the death or serious injury of a minor. Such penalties may be doubled up to $100,000 each if the violation is found to be repeated or willful.

The EEOC is providing an update to its mandatory “EEO is the Law” workplace poster to reflect the new GINA law. The EEOC provides a supplement to its federal “EEO is the Law” poster available at the link below. Employers may simply print off the supplement and place it near their current “EEO is the Law” poster which is part of the large, free workplace poster distributed by Iowa Workforce Development.

IWD updated its large, free workplace poster about a year ago after changes were made to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act and Americans With Disabilities Act. The agency is awaiting any additional law changes before deciding whether to reprint the poster again. A decision is anticipated in the summer of 2010.


ECI Partnership Agreement

At the January 28, 2009, State Employers' Council of Iowa (ECI) meeting the Iowa Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented a certificate of appreciation for outstanding support of military personnel at the state and local level by ECI.

Matt Ricke, ECI State President, and Barry Spear, ESGR Iowa Chairman, have also signed a strategic partnership agreement between ECI and ESGR to continue and strengthen the relationship that has been forged between the two groups.


Unemployment Insurance Benefit Options


New FMLA Regulations Released by U.S. Department of Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor published final Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) rules on Monday, November, 17, 2008. The new rules will become effective January 16, 2009.

Federal officials said highlights of the revised rules include, among others:

  • Military Caregiver Leave: Implements two previously announced new benefit extensions for military family benefits;

  • Serious Health Condition: Retains the current six individual definitions of “serious health condition,” but clarifies when “periodic visits to a health care provider” must be made;

  • Notice Obligations: Clarifies and strengthens the employer notice requirements to employees to ensure employees are informed of their FMLA rights and obligations and similarly tightens requirements for employee’s obligation to provide FMLA notice to their employers.


Information on Iowa's statewide smoke-free air law can be found at www.IowaSmokefreeAir.gov


Iowa Registered Apprenticeship Site

The 21st century economy demands a workforce with postsecondary education credentials and the adaptability to respond immediately to changing economic and business needs. Registered Apprenticeship is a critical postsecondary education, training and employment option available in every state in the country. An Integration Program To Educate, Promote, Train, Target and Partner...


Resources For Businesses Economic Developers, Grant Writers Etc., Reference Guide
(PDF-259 KB)

The Clinton Employers' Council of Iowa (ECI) recently created two PowerPoint presentations to help students prepare for the world of work. John Gentzkow and Doug Rempfer, IWD, presented the Clinton Area Employment powerpoint during the Clinton Community College Career Day.

Local ECI members presented 6 sessions of the Employment PowerPoint to around 150 Camanche High School juniors and seniors in March. In January the Clinton ECI presented the Job Interviewing for Success PowerPoint, which also includes tips on developing soft skills, to freshman and sophomores.

Job Interviewing For Success
(PowerPoint - 551 KB)

Download For Microsoft
PowerPoint Viewer


Popular Documents

Employment Trends
(PowerPoint - 2.1 MB)

Iowa Fringe Benefit Profile
(PDF - 285 KB)


Iowa Workforce Development and its Board of Directors worked in partnership with the Employers’ Council of Iowa to contact a random sample of local employers across all industrial classifications and employment ranges to provide information on the benefit packages offered by businesses in the State of Iowa. The information gathered provides a detailed analysis of employer-provided benefits. Consequently, this information will assist businesses, community leaders, and workers to make better informed decisions on expansion initiatives, community development projects, and job offerings.

Who We Are

Iowa's Employers' councils are groups of employers who work in partnership with Iowa Workforce Development to meet the workforce needs of employers. They provide an employer perspective in advising IWD and other policy makers on the full range of workforce issues and topics of concern to employers. The special role of the state level Employers' Council is to help gather and disseminate information about the activities of local councils, and to represent the local councils at the state and federal levels.

Our Mission Statement

The mission of the Employers' Council of Iowa is to support the efforts of local employers committees to:

Advise Iowa Workforce Development, legislators, and other officials concerning its products, services, and policies that affect employers; and

Provide opportunities for employers to exchange information and develop education programs for employers.

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