Opinion ID: 2024227
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Computation of Earnings.

Text: Weishaar's cross-appeal also asserts error by the commissioner and the district court in computing her earnings for the weeks ending August 11, 1990, and December 22, 1990, by excluding all hours worked over forty. In each of these weeks, Weishaar worked forty-eight hours at a straight rate of $11.29 and $11.31, respectively. Weishaar contends that the commissioner and the district court erroneously concluded that all overtime hours are to be excluded in determining earnings, but in fact, it is only amounts due in excess of the straight time rate for overtime hours worked that must be deducted. Weishaar relies on this administrative rule to support her argument: The word overtime as used in Iowa Code section 85.61 means amounts due in excess of the straight time rate for overtime hours worked. Such excess amounts shall not be considered in determining gross weekly wages within Iowa Code section 85.36. Overtime hours at the straight time rate are included in determining gross weekly earnings. Iowa Admin. Code r. 873-8.2(85) (1997) (emphasis added) (replacing rule 343-8.2). This rule appears to support Weishaar's argument, and Snap-On does not argue otherwise. In fact, Snap-On did not address this issue in its reply brief, and the argument could be deemed waived. Iowa R.App. P. 14(a)(3). We reverse on this cross-appeal issue also. On remand the commissioner shall determine Weishaar's earnings for the weeks in question in accordance with rule 873-8.2(85). AFFIRMED ON APPEAL; REVERSED ON CROSS-APPEAL; AND REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS.