This bill establishes that employees who are veterans are entitled to unpaid leave for attending appointments with a county commission of veteran affairs. To utilize this leave, veterans must submit a written request to their employer at least five calendar days in advance, although in emergency situations, only twenty-four hours' notice is required. The bill also stipulates that if an employer denies a request for unpaid leave without a good-faith reason or retaliates against a veteran for taking such leave, the veteran has the right to file a complaint with the Iowa office of civil rights.

Additionally, the bill amends existing law to explicitly categorize the denial of unpaid leave for veterans attending these appointments, as well as any retaliatory actions taken against them, as unfair or discriminatory employment practices. This amendment reinforces the protections for veterans in the workplace regarding their rights to attend necessary appointments related to their service.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 216.15