Iowa Code §331.304 preempts cities and counties from mandating paid sick leave, paid family leave, or scheduling rules; only federal FMLA applies, leaving private employer policy as the leave standard.
Iowa Code §331.304 preempts local paid-leave mandates alongside its minimum-wage preemption. Des Moines, Polk County, and other Iowa cities cannot require private employers to provide paid sick leave, paid family leave, bereavement leave, or predictable scheduling. Federal FMLA provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave for employers with 50+ employees. Iowa state employees receive paid leave under merit-system rules. Some employers including Hy-Vee, Principal Financial, and Wells Fargo offer voluntary paid leave benefits, but none are mandated by city or state law.
No local enforcement available; FMLA disputes go to U.S. Department of Labor; private employer leave policies enforced via contract or civil-rights claims only.
See how Des Moines's paid leave preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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