Some Iowa dealerships have been asking about letters for their essential employees stating that they are essential. While no letters are required in Iowa, dealers may create essential employee letters for essential employees, which may be particularly helpful in situations where essential employees are not Iowa residents. IADA recommends that the letters (sometimes referred to as CISA letters) be printed on dealership letterhead and include the following:
- The employee's name
- The name of the employer/business
- The address of the business
- Information on the service the business provides. (For example, "[Name of Employee] is an automotive technician at [Dealership Name], a business that performs automotive repair, maintenance, and supply, which has been deemed by the US Department of Homeland Security to be essential to the nation's transportation infrastructure.")
- The employee's typical work schedule
- A contact telephone number for the dealership
- The signature of an owner or executive of the employer
While service, maintenance, and collision techs and parts employees are considered essential under federal guidance, other dealership employees may be able to work remotely and should not be given an essential employee letter. Discretion is advised, as abuse of the essential employee designation has the potential to cause significant problems for an employer.