Iowa does not have overtime laws that are different from federal overtime law.

The current minimum wage in Iowa is $7.25, which is the same as the federal minimum wage.  Tipped employees in Iowa can be paid a lower cash wage of $4.35 per hour, as long as their total earnings (tips plus base wage) meet or exceed the standard minimum wage. Tips must also add up to more than $30 a month. If tips and wages do not add up to $7.25 an hour, the employer is required to make up the difference. 

Iowa does not have any meal or rest break requirementsfor employees aged 18 or older. Iowa requires that minor employees younger than 15 must be given a 30-minute break if they are employed five or more hours in one day.

You can file this Wage Claim form with the Division of Labor Services. The filing should include as much information and documentation as possible. The Division will not accept claims if the money you are owed is more than $6,500.00. This process can be completed with or without an attorney, and more information can be found here.

If you have a wage/hour complaint, do not delay in contacting the Division of Labor to file a claim. There are strict time limits in which wage claims must be filed. In order for the agency to act on your behalf, you must file the complaint within one year from the date that the claim arose.

As you might have other legal claims with shorter deadlines, do not wait to file your claim until your time limit is close to expiring. It may be helpful to consult with an attorney prior to filing your claim, but it is not necessary to have an attorney to file your claim.

In Iowa, an employee can file a private lawsuit to recover past compensation plus liquidated damages, attorney’s fees and costs.