Wisconsin is to cheese what Texas is to oil. In fact, Wisconsin leads
the nation in cheese production. That is why the locals happily wear
their "cheese-head hats" to show their pride. Wisconsin's overall dairy
industry is second only to California is production amounts. The
majority of Wisconsin residents can trace their family trees back to
Germany but it is the one state with the most Polish ancestries.
Wisconsin citizens have a long and proud record of hard work and
dedication to their jobs. With a total population hovering just over
five million, Wisconsin is a diverse and active group of people making
many contributions to American society from the arts to sports.
The basis for the Wisconsin labor laws have been established by using
the foundation of the federal labor laws. This starts with the minimum
wage which is $7.25 based on a 40 hour work week. For any hours over
those first forty, the worker should be paid time and half of their
hourly salary.
Wisconsin Minor Labor Laws
When it comes to work related matters in Wisconsin, a minor is
considered anyone between the age of 12 and 17. Anyone under 12 is not
allowed to work. If an employer does hire a minor, they must have a
work permit on file for that individual worker. Minors are not allowed
to work in businesses that sell liquor except for places like hotels or
restaurants where the minors won't directly be selling or serving
alcohol.
Wisconsin Maternity Leave Laws
Wisconsin's own set of family leave laws differ from the national
Family and Medical Leave Acts. In Wisconsin any employer with at least
50 workers must make available up to six weeks of leave for the birth
or adoption of a child. This applies to both men and women.
Leave can also be taken in the advent of an extended medical condition
or taking care of an immediate family member who has become ill. The
worker who has been granted leave will still have their health
insurance coverage and be allowed to return to the same position as the
same salary.
Wisconsin Additional Labor Laws
A "One Day in Seven Rest Law" was instituted by the Wisconsin
legislature. This states that any worker must be given 24 hours of rest
for every seven days of work. However, this doesn't mean it has to be
every consecutive seven days. For instance, an employee can schedule a
worker for 12 days of consecutive work as long as the day of rest
occurs on the first and last day of the schedule.
Wisconsin also has a "seat for workers" regulation which means
employers have to provide a place for their workers to sit when they
are actively engaged in their duties. This applies specifically to
manufacturers.
Employers don't have to provide meal periods for workers over the age
of 18, although many do. For minor workers, 30 minutes of meal time
must be allowed for any eight hour shift.
Any business can require a medical exam for a potential employee but
they must pay for the cost of that exam. Employers are also required to
keep a record of each worker's information such as address, DOB, salary
and hours worked for up to three years after their last day of work.