Religious Discrimination Law Summaries
Iowa, Religious Discrimination Law Summaries
Iowa's statutory provisions dealing with religious discrimination in employment are located in the state's civil rights law (Iowa Code, Title VI, Subtitle 1, Chapter 216-reported at ¶16-2500), under criminal law covering fair employment practices (Iowa Code, Title 1, Ch. 729, Sec. 729.4), and in the state merit system law (Iowa Code, Title I, Subtitle 4, Ch. 8A, Subchapter IV, Part 2, Section 8A.416). However, see also ¶16-2500 for any provisions that may apply under Iowa's civil rights law.
C0VERAGE
Iowa's state merit system law prohibits religious discrimination in state employment.
WHAT THE EMPLOYER MUST DO
It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any person, employer (of four or more employees) or labor organization to refuse to hire, accept, register, classify, or refer for employment, to discharge any employee, or to otherwise discriminate in employment against any applicant for employment or against any employee because of that person's religion, unless based upon the nature of the occupation. Discriminatory advertising is also prohibited. This does not apply to any bona fide religious institution or its educational facility, association, corporation, or society with respect to any qualifications for employment based on religion when such qualifications are related to a bona fide religious purpose. A religious qualification for instructional personnel or an administrative officer, serving in a supervisory capacity of a bona fide religious educational facility or religious institution, shall be presumed to be a bona fide occupational qualification (Title VI, Subtitle 1, Ch. 216, Sec. 216.6) (See also ¶16-2500).
Public employers.- No person may be appointed or promoted to, or demoted or discharged from, any position in the merit system, or in any way favored or discriminated against with respect to employment in the merit system because of the person's political or religious opinions or affiliations or race or national origin or sex, or age (Sec. 8A.416).
Abortions.- An individual who may lawfully perform, assist, or participate in medical procedures that will result in an abortion must not be required against that individual's religious beliefs or moral convictions to perform, assist, or participate in such procedures. A person must not discriminate against any individual in employment because of the individual's participation in or refusal to participate in recommending, performing or assisting in an abortion procedure (Title IV, Subtitle 2, Ch. 146, Sec. 146.1).
Criminal law.- Iowa's criminal law makes it unlawful for a person or employer to discriminate in the employment of individuals because of religion (Title XVI, Subtitle 1, Ch. 729, Sec. 729.4).
NOTICE
Iowa's state merit system law does not specify any notice requirements for employers with respect to religious discrimination.
ENFORCEMENT
The Department of Personnel enforces Iowa's state merit system law.
Any officer or employee in the merit system who discriminates on the basis of religion is subject to suspension, dismissal, or demotion, subject to the right of appeal (Sec. 8A.416).
WHO TO CONTACT
Contact the Department of Personnel at Grimes Building, Des Moines, IA 50319-0150. Telephone: (515) 281-3087. Fax: (515) 242-6450.
PENALTIES
Any person who discriminates in employment based on religion, where the individual is otherwise qualified to perform the services or work required, is guilty of a simple misdemeanor (Title XVI, Subtitle 1, Ch. 729, Sec. 729.4), which is punishable by imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, and/or a fine of at least $65, but not to exceed $625 (Title XVI, Subtitle 3, Ch. 903, Sec. 903.1, as last amended by Ch. 1166 (H. 2789), L. 2006).
<p>Any person who discriminates in employment based on religion, where the individual is otherwise qualified to perform the services or work required, is guilty of</p>