Human resource managers and support staff can undertake a training program designed to help them comply with Wisconsin employment laws in their practices of hiring new employees and managing relations among existing employees.

Once they've learned how to access the statutes on which Wisconsin labor policies are based, HR staff can branch out and focus on strategies that help them implement those laws. Suggest your HR department design its own Wisconsin labor and employment law education and training program that makes use of these handy internet sources:

1. Discover the statutes that set forth Wisconsin labor and employment law regulations.

2. Learn about Wisconsin work laws by reading the commentaries of the state's leading employment lawyers.

3. Complete webinars and check for upcoming seminars that concentrate on Wisconsin employment rights.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate primary sources for the State of Wisconsin labor laws

Beginning your HR workshop with an explanation of how to find the state's labor statutes gives employees the research skills they'll need to prepare the company's HR policy guidelines in the future.

I recommend: The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development details the records that employers are required to keep permanently. The Wisconsin Legislature website allows you to search the statutes for employment-related regulations. Labor Law Talk informs you of the laws you must post in your business, such as Wisconsin child labor laws and Unemployment Insurance. The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission is an independent organization that helps private businesses and government offices manage employee relations successfully.

Read what Wisconsin labor lawyers are saying about employment in their state

Your HR training program can further develop employees' skills by requiring them to monitor professional literature on Wisconsin labor laws. Reading articles and newsletters written by practicing labor attorneys helps your HR staff identify key issues.

I recommend: Sign up for the Wisconsin Employment Law Letter at HR Hero so you can get sample policies, updates on recent state supreme court decisions and practical advice on how to comply with statutes affecting businesses. Alan C. Olson & Associates' periodically updated newsletter treats topics such as whether employers are invading the privacy of new hires when they seek to learn their credit scores. Legal updates from Jackson Lewis keep you informed of court decisions affecting labor law policies.

Register employees for seminars on labor laws in Wisconsin

The crowning touch to your Wisconsin labor and employment law education and training workshop is to encourage HR staff to build relationships with legal professionals as they attend instructive seminars on Wisconsin employee rights. Most webinars present general guidelines on HR policy that you can challenge your own staff to use in their own practice.

I recommend: The employment law topics on webinars provided by Shaw Valenza apply to labor practices in every state. Seminar Information.com will keep you posted about upcoming seminars in Wisconsin that help HR staff master the skills they need to create a positive working environment.

Labor laws in Wisconsin help employers protect their businesses through compliance with safety standards, fair hiring practices and work environment. Wisconsin labor and employment labor law helps both employers and employees have better working relationships in a more productive environment.

Wisconsin labor and employment law makes working better for everyone. Labor law, although originally intended to improve working conditions for laborers, boosts business owner’s bottom line by increased productivity.

Wisconsin labor laws deal with job safety, employee foreman ratios, break time, lunch time and safety standards within the work environment. Updated Wisconsin labor laws meet the demand of new technology and constantly changing work requirements. Understand and comply with Wisconsin state labor law to:

1. Stay in compliance with changes to Wisconsin state labor and employment law.

2. Provide productive work environments for employees through Wisconsin employment law.

3. Protect your businesses from frivolous lawsuits.

4. Keep productivity high.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Display Wisconsin employment law posters in easy to read locations around your facility

Keeping employees informed of their rights and responsibilities under employment law in Wisconsin keeps them empowered. Wisconsin labor law posters provide the latest updates or changes in labor law in Wisconsin.

I recommend: GovDocs and LaborLawCenter.com carry up to date government recommended Wisconsin employment law posters for display around your facility.

Protect yourself and your employees by keeping up to date on Wisconsin labor laws

The only way to guard your company from frivolous lawsuits and keep employees happy is to promote a safe work environment and understand your rights as an employer. Keeping up to date on changes to current laws and how the effect your particular company is vital to a healthy work environment.

I recommend: Visit the information for employers page of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Find online applications and forms for employers from the Labor Standards Bureau.

Increase productivity by going above and beyond required state of Wisconsin work laws

Wisconsin employment law, as in any state, gives guidelines and requirements for what the state considers a safe working environment. This is true even in the area of Wisconsin child labor laws. Going above the minimum requirements to keep employees happy and safe is a great way to increase their overall productivity.

I recommend: Attend any of the Labor Law Clinics offered and taught by employees of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. HRhero.com is a subscription service offering the latest updates to state by state employment law.

Find labor lawyers in Wisconsin from a Wisconsin employment laws firm

Wisconsin labor lawyers from Wisconsin employment law firms help clients understand Wisconsin employment law. Labor lawyers in Wisconsin from Wisconsin employment law firms keep clients informed and in compliance with the latest changes and updates to Wisconsin employment law.

I recommend: Ruder Ware has attorneys who specialize in labor, employment and benefit issues in Wisconsin. Krukowski and Costello, S.C. represents employers in labor and employment law matters.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Discuss Wisconsin state employment law changes with your union representative. If you are a non union business, be sure someone in your Human Resources department is in charge of all employment law related issues.
• •  Post Wisconsin state labor law posters anywhere employees tend to congregate or spend time on breaks. Conference rooms, break rooms, lunch rooms and near time clocks are all great places to for labor law posters.

Attorneys have a strong motivation to keep informed of Wisconsin labor and employment law news and trends. Attorneys need to keep track of the latest rulings in cases involving Wisconsin labor and employment law. The state may change its forms and procedures at any time, which can affect the way these attorneys do their jobs. Attorneys also may want to know what laypeople are saying about labor and employment law, in order to correct any misconceptions they may have.

The best sources of information on news and trends for state of Wisconsin labor laws may be grouped into the following three categories:

1. Independent news sources on Wisconsin employment laws and Wisconsin child labor laws, such as blogs, magazines and newspapers. These sources are the most likely to provide news and opinions on labor and employment law that do not rely on any particular business or lobby group.
2. State websites. These sites are the best source of official news and trends on Wisconsin labor law, such as current procedures or rulings.
3. Legal professionals. Attorneys’ websites provide opportunities to get inside news and information on labor and employment law.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Study independent sources of news and trends on Wisconsin employment law

News organizations frequently report on legislative updates on Wisconsin labor and employment law. Individuals also may keep blogs and journals on labor law in Wisconsin.

I recommend: The South Central Federation of Labor provides regular updates of labor news in southern Wisconsin. The Telegraph Herald has a recent report on child labor laws in Wisconsin.

Review state websites to get official news and other information on Wisconsin labor laws

Wisconsin government websites are the best places to get the latest news about Wisconsin labor and employment law. A Wisconsin website also may publish the state statutes to help attorneys stay informed on the latest legislation that relates to Wisconsin labor and employment law.

I recommend: The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development lists regular news bulletins about labor law in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission hosts conferences on a variety of topics that relate to labor law in Wisconsin.

Get inside news on labor laws from Wisconsin labor lawyers

Wisconsin lawyers who practice labor and employment law frequently have information on Wisconsin law that is not available elsewhere. These attorneys may publish newsletters or full length articles on a particular aspect of labor and employment law in Wisconsin.

I recommend: Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci provides frequent updates on employment and labor law in Wisconsin. Wessels Sherman publishes regular articles on Wisconsin employment law.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are also many online forums for news and trends on Wisconsin employment laws. These forums may have threads that are dedicated to a particular topic and readers typically will see a lively debate on each subject. The posts in these forums may consist of personal experiences, discussions and opinions. Forums also have a variety of methods for evaluating readers' opinions such as polls, surveys and votes that include reader comments.

An examination of Wisconsin labor and employment law basics should include finding ways of protecting your business and employees. The primary goal of labor and employment laws is to equalize the power between employers and employees, who are frequently represented by labor unions.

State of Wisconsin labor laws may include both state and federal statutes. Federal laws regulate workers' rights to organize and override most state labor and employment laws. However, federal laws generally do not apply to agricultural workers, domestic employees and employees of local or state governments. There are three general areas of labor and employment law regulated by states:

1. Wisconsin employment laws on wages and benefits. Many states have laws giving a minimum wage that is higher than the federal standard and also provide laws that protect workers excluded by the Fair Labor and Standards Act (FLSA).
2. Display requirements for labor law posters. Wisconsin employers must prominently display posters in the workplace with specific information on federal and Wisconsin labor laws.
3. Workers compensation insurance. Wisconsin has minimum coverage requirements for employees who experience work-related injuries. Employers frequently consult with Wisconsin employment law firms to ensure their worker's compensation insurance coverage is adequate.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about labor laws in Wisconsin that regulate minimum wage and overtime

According to Wisconsin child labor laws, businesses must pay their employees the greater of the state or federal minimum wage. Overtime laws generally control what an employee should be paid after 40 hours of work in the same week.

I recommend: The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development has current minimum wage information in English and Spanish. CCH provides a summary of the minimum wage in Wisconsin.

Find out how to display posters on Wisconsin employment laws

Wisconsin labor law posters keep employees informed of their rights and obligations under federal and state labor laws. Employers must display these posters in the workplace in a visible location where they are easy to read.

I recommend: Smith & Associates has the specific posting requirements for labor law posters in Wisconsin. Amsterdam Printing specifies the mandatory state labor law postings for Wisconsin.

Provide workers' compensation insurance required by Wisconsin labor laws

Workers' compensation insurance in Wisconsin protects employees and their families in the event of injury or death of the employee while on the job. Government websites, insurance agencies and Wisconsin labor lawyers commonly have basic information on workers compensation.

I recommend: Gillick, Wicht, Gillick & Graf provides information on filing a worker's compensation claim that is specific to Wisconsin. Griffin Law Center provides an overview of the workers' compensation claim process in Wisconsin.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Wisconsin labor laws generally have the presumption that workers not covered by an employment agreement are 'at will' employees who may be fired without notice or cause. However, these employees may be protected under laws that cover specific activities, such as organizing unions or whistle blowing.