Erbe Law Firm

Can You Be Defamed At Work By Your Managers Or Co-Workers?

Defamation consists of false written or oral statements that tend to injure a person’s reputation and good name.  But how does that apply to managers or co-workers in theemployment context?  Can comments by a manager or co-worker lead to liability for defamation?  The Iowa Supreme Court has never answered that question, but the Iowa Court of Appeals did recently inNewell v. JDS Holdings. TheNewellcourt decided that inter-corporate communications can, in limited circumstances, f... READ MORE Posted May 11, 2013 at 12:20 PM

Employers' Limited Right To Conduct Post-Injury Drug Tests

There’s a common perception that Iowa law permits employers todrug and alcohol testan employee any time there’s a work-related injury.  That perception is wrong.  Employers do not have an absolute right to conduct post-injury drug and alcohol testing.  A more complicated analysis, which goes beyond whether there was a workplace injury, is required to determine whether an employer has the right to test. The applicable employee drug testing statute provisions only allow employers... READ MORE Posted April 25, 2013 at 03:31 PM