Iowa Unemployment Insurance Resources For Employers

FUELIowa has received numerous calls from members regarding the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on their business operation.  A growing concern among members centers around the scope of unemployment benefits available to workers through the recently passed CARES ACT.  

As a reminder for FUELIowa members, state and federal unemployment laws do not provide benefits or unemployment assistance of any kind for employees who quit their job, refuse to return to work or refuse to receive full-time pay. Within the context of Covid-19, fear of the virus is not a reason to refuse work.  Attempts to collect payments after quitting a job could be viewed as fraudulent and will be further investigated. The CARES Act specifically provides for serious consequences for fraudulent cases including fines, confinement and an inability to receive future unemployment benefits until all fraudulent claims and fines have been repaid.

In response to a growing caseload of unemployment filings and hearing from concerned business owners, Iowa Workforce Development has made the following link available to employers to expedite the reporting of employees that have refused work that is available to them:  Job Offer Decline Form For Employers.

Additionally, the following Question and Answer page provided by Iowa Workforce Development is tailored to provide employers with information specific to unemployment claims during the current Covid-19 pandemic.