108.04 Annotation
An employee who voluntarily terminated part-time employment, which prior to termination had not affected eligibility, became ineligible under sub. (7) (a). Ellingson v. DILHR,
95 Wis. 2d 710,
291 N.W.2d 649 (Ct. App. 1980).
108.04 Annotation
An employee who was transferred to a workplace 25 miles away and did not receive a pay increase to cover the increased commuting costs had good cause to quit. Farmers Mill of Athens, Inc. v. DILHR,
97 Wis. 2d 576,
294 N.W.2d 39 (Ct. App. 1980).
108.04 Annotation
Falsification of an employment application with respect to a criminal record constitutes "misconduct" under sub. (5), regardless of materiality to the employee's particular job. Miller Brewing Co. v. DILHR,
103 Wis. 2d 496,
308 N.W.2d 922 (Ct. App. 1981).
108.04 Annotation
Whether leaving work without permission as the result of an alleged safety violation was misconduct is determined based on whether a reasonable person would reasonably believe that the given working conditions presented a hazard to health or safety. Wehr Steel Co. v. DILHR,
106 Wis. 2d 111,
315 N.W.2d 357 (1982).
108.04 Annotation
Sub. (10) does not deny equal protection to nonstriking workers laid off because of a strike. Jenks v. DILHR,
107 Wis. 2d 714,
321 N.W.2d 347 (Ct. App. 1982).
108.04 Annotation
Under sub. (1) or (7), a pregnant employee who could not perform her specific job but could do other work was eligible for benefits. Rhinelander Paper Co., Inc. v. DILHR,
120 Wis. 2d 162,
352 N.W.2d 679 (Ct. App. 1984).
108.04 Annotation
A teacher who forgot to accept an employment offer under s. 118.22 (2) and who was consequently terminated did not voluntarily terminate employment under sub. (7). Nelson v. LIRC,
123 Wis. 2d 221,
365 N.W.2d 629 (Ct. App. 1985).
108.04 Annotation
A claimant who was physically able to perform less than 15% of the jobs in the job market was ineligible under sub. (2) (a). Brooks v. LIRC,
138 Wis. 2d 106,
405 N.W.2d 705 (Ct. App. 1987).
108.04 Annotation
"Reasonable assurance" under sub. (17) (b) is a written, implied, or verbal agreement pursuant to which the employee will perform similar services during the following academic term. Farrell v. LIRC,
147 Wis. 2d 476,
433 N.W.2d 269 (Ct. App. 1988).
108.04 Annotation
Under sub. (10) (d), "lockout" requires that the employer physically bar employees' entrance into the workplace; there is no inquiry into the cause for the work stoppage. Trinwith v. LIRC,
149 Wis. 2d 634,
439 N.W.2d 581 (Ct. App. 1989).
108.04 Annotation
The federal immigration act did not retroactively confer permanent resident status on an alien for compensation purposes under sub. (18). Pickering v. LIRC,
156 Wis. 2d 361,
456 N.W.2d 874 (Ct. App. 1990).
108.04 Annotation
A teacher was entitled to unemployment benefits during the summer break between academic years when the teacher was permanently employed for all of the first academic year but was offered employment as a long-term substitute for the first semester of the second academic year. DILHR v. LIRC,
161 Wis. 2d 231,
467 N.W.2d 545 (1991).
108.04 Annotation
Sub. (17) (c) [now (17) (g)] was not applicable to a teacher who qualified for benefits although working periodically as substitute. Wanish v. LIRC,
163 Wis. 2d 901,
472 N.W.2d 596 (Ct. App. 1991).
108.04 Annotation
Employment offers by a temporary employment agency at rates substantially lower than the prevailing rates for similar work was "good cause" under sub. (7) (b); sub. (7) (f) does not preclude a finding of "good cause" when the offered wage is more than two-thirds of the prior wage. Cornwell Personnel Associates v. LIRC,
175 Wis. 2d 537,
499 N.W.2d 705 (Ct. App. 1993).
108.04 Annotation
LIRC's interpretation of ``suitable work" in sub. (8) (a) as being work that is reasonable considering the claimant's training, experience, and length of unemployment and of ``became unemployed" in sub. (8) (d) as being when the person is no longer performing services for the employer are reasonable and consistent with the scheme of ch. 108. Hubert v. LIRC,
186 Wis. 2d 590,
522 N.W.2d 512 (Ct. App. 1994).
108.04 Annotation
Sub. (8) (d) describes a situation when "good cause" under sub. (8) (a) must be found. It does not mean there is no "good cause" if its conditions are not met. DILHR v. LIRC,
193 Wis. 2d 391,
535 N.W.2d 6 (Ct. App. 1995).
108.04 Annotation
Excessive tardiness, which disrupted an office work schedule, rose to the level of misconduct under sub. (5). Charette v. LIRC,
196 Wis. 2d 956,
540 N.W.2d 239 (Ct. App. 1995),
94-3238.
108.04 Annotation
A "reasonable assurance" of employment under sub. (17) (a) 1. requires an offer of employment under similar terms and circumstances, including location. Jobs 180 miles apart are not similar; the offer of such a job does not terminate benefits. Bunker v. LIRC,
197 Wis. 2d 606,
541 N.W.2d 168 (Ct. App. 1995),
95-0174.
108.04 Annotation
Misconduct under sub. (5) is the intentional and substantial disregard of of an employer's interests. The crucial question is the employee's intent or attitude that attends the conduct alleged to be misconduct. Bernhardt v. LIRC,
207 Wis. 2d 294,
558 N.W.2d 874 (Ct. App. 1996).
108.04 Annotation
To be entitled to benefits under sub. (7) (am), there must be an identifiable, threatened suspension or termination of another employee's work and not just a response to separation incentives offered by the employer as a cost-cutting measure. Berry v. LIRC,
213 Wis. 2d 397,
570 N.W.2d 610 (Ct. App. 1997).
108.04 Annotation
The definition of "employer" under sub. (10) (d) does not include an employer joined or associated with another for the purpose of collective bargaining who is not subject to a strike against the other employer. Brauneis v. LIRC, 2000 WI 69,
236 Wis. 2d 27,
612 N.W.2d 635.
108.04 Annotation
Sub. (6) makes no distinction between suspensions with pay or without pay. City of Kenosha v. LIRC, 2000 WI App 131,
237 Wis. 2d 304,
614 N.W.2d 508.
108.04 Annotation
LIRC could reasonably decide that an employee's physical assault of another employee in reaction to discriminatory, harassing comments of a non-physical nature was misconduct under sub. (5) even though the employer may have failed to properly respond to the employee's past complaints. Lopez v. LIRC, 2002 WI App 63,
252 Wis. 2d 476,
642 N.W.2d 561.
108.04 Annotation
To demonstrate voluntary termination of employment for good cause under sub. (7) (b), the employee must show that the termination involved real and substantial fault on the part of the employer. Moving in violation of residency requirements of a collective bargaining agreement was inconsistent with continuation of an employer-employee relationship and constituted voluntarily termination of employment. That both the employee and her new spouse were subject to residency requirements that, if honored, would have prevented their living together was not "good cause" for termination. Klatt v. LIRC, 2003 WI App 197,
266 Wis. 2d 1038,
669 N.W.2d 752,
02-3218.
108.04 Annotation
The denial of unemployment compensation to a Jehovah's Witness who quit a job due to religious beliefs was a violation of the right to free exercise of religion. Thomas v. Review Board of the Indiana Employment Security Division,
450 U.S. 707 (1981).
108.04 Annotation
Voluntary termination not found where there is meritorious excuse for refusal to pay union dues based on religious ground. 64 MLR 203 (1980).
108.04 Annotation
Unemployment compensation - An examination of Wisconsin's "active progress" labor dispute disqualification provision. 1982 WLR 907.
108.04 Annotation
Winning denials of unemployment compensation claims. Thorne. WBB June 1983.
108.05
108.05
Amount of benefits. 108.05(1)(j)(j) Each eligible employee shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment that commences on or after January 3, 1999, and before April 2, 2000, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless
sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4% of the employee's base period wages that were paid during that quarter of the employee's base period in which the employee was paid the highest total wages, rounded down to the nearest whole dollar, except that if that amount is less than the minimum amount shown in the following schedule, no benefits are payable to the employee and if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employee's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that if the employee's benefits are exhausted during any week under
s. 108.06 (1), the employee shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employee in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (j) following]
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108.05(1)(k)
(k) Each eligible employee shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment that commences on or after April 2, 2000, and before October 1, 2000, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless
sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4% of the employee's base period wages that were paid during that quarter of the employee's base period in which the employee was paid the highest total wages, rounded down to the nearest whole dollar, except that if that amount is less than the minimum amount shown in the following schedule, no benefits are payable to the employee and if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employee's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that if the employee's benefits are exhausted during any week under
s. 108.06 (1), the employee shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employee in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (k) following]
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See PDF for table 108.05(1)(L)
(L) Each eligible employee shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment that commences on or after October 1, 2000, and before December 30, 2001, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless
sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4% of the employee's base period wages that were paid during that quarter of the employee's base period in which the employee was paid the highest total wages, rounded down to the nearest whole dollar, except that, if that amount is less than the minimum amount shown in the following schedule, no benefits are payable to the employee and, if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employee's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that, if the employee's benefits are exhausted during any week under
s. 108.06 (1), the employee shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employee in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (L) following]
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(m) Each eligible employee shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment that commences on or after December 30, 2001, and before December 29, 2002, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless
sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4% of the employee's base period wages that were paid during that quarter of the employee's base period in which the employee was paid the highest total wages, rounded down to the nearest whole dollar, except that, if that amount is less than the minimum amount shown in the following schedule, no benefits are payable to the employee and, if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employee's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that, if the employee's benefits are exhausted during any week under
s. 108.06 (1), the employee shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employee in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (m) following]
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(n) Each eligible employee shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment that commences on or after December 29, 2002, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless
sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4% of the employee's base period wages that were paid during that quarter of the employee's base period in which the employee was paid the highest total wages, rounded down to the nearest whole dollar, except that, if that amount is less than the minimum amount shown in the following schedule, no benefits are payable to the employee and, if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employee's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that, if the employee's benefits are exhausted during any week under
s. 108.06 (1), the employee shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employee in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (n) following]
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(1m) Final payments in certain cases. Whenever, as of the beginning of any week, the difference between the maximum amount of benefits potentially payable to an employee, as computed under this section and
s. 108.06 (1), and the amount of benefits otherwise payable to the employee for that week is $5 or less, the benefits payable to the employee for that week shall be that maximum amount.
108.05(2)
(2) Semiannual adjustment of maximum and minimum benefit rates. 108.05(2)(a)(a) This chapter's maximum weekly benefit rate, as to weeks of unemployment in a given half year starting January 1 or July 1 shall be based on the "average wages per average week" of the preceding "base year", ended 6 months before the starting date of the given half year, pursuant to this subsection.
108.05(2)(b)
(b) The department shall determine by each December 1 and June 1 for the last completed base year, ended June 30 or December 31 respectively, from reports to the department submitted by employers other than government units financing benefits under
s. 108.15 covering their employees in employment and any corrections thereof filed by September 30 or March 31 for that base year:
108.05(2)(b)1.
1. The gross wages thus reported by all such employers as paid in that year for such employment; and
108.05(2)(b)2.
2. The average of the 12 mid-month totals of all such employees in employment thus reported for that year; and
108.05(2)(b)3.
3. The quotient obtained by dividing said gross wages by said average; and
108.05(2)(b)4.
4. The amount, called "average wages per average week" in this section, obtained by dividing such quotient by 52.
108.05(2)(c)
(c) This chapter's maximum weekly benefit rate, as to weeks of unemployment in the ensuing half year, shall equal the result obtained by rounding 66-2/3% of the "average wages per average week" to the nearest multiple of one dollar, and the minimum weekly benefit rate shall be an amount which is 15% of the maximum rate and adjusted, if not a multiple of one dollar, to the next lower multiple of one dollar.
108.05(2)(d)
(d) Whenever, for any half year ending on June 30 or December 31, the new maximum and minimum weekly benefit rates are higher or lower than the rate for the previous half year in the current benefit rate schedule, the department shall amend the starting lines and wage classes so that the first line shows the quarterly wages below the least amount necessary to qualify for the minimum weekly benefit rate and the 2nd line shows the new minimum weekly benefit rate and the highest quarterly wage class to which it applies. The department shall amend the closing lines so that the next to last line shows a weekly benefit rate which is $1 less than the new maximum weekly benefit rate and the quarterly wage class to which it applies and the last line shows the new maximum weekly benefit rate and a quarterly wage class which starts one cent above the higher wage figure of the next to last line and ranges upward without limit. The department shall consecutively number the intervening lines of the schedule with a separate line for each $1 change in weekly benefit rate and the applicable quarterly wage class for each weekly benefit rate.
108.05(2)(e)
(e) The department shall publish as a class 1 notice under
ch. 985 the "average wages per average week", the corresponding maximum and minimum weekly benefit rates, and the resulting schedule of quarterly wage classes and weekly benefit rates within 10 days after each determination. The schedule shall then apply to all weeks of unemployment in the ensuing half year.
108.05(2)(f)
(f) The department shall certify such schedule to the revisor of statutes, who shall when publishing the statutes include the latest such schedule then available.
108.05(2)(g)
(g) Any change in the minimum benefit rate does not affect benefits payable to a claimant for a benefit year that begins prior to the effective date of a new rate schedule.
108.05(2)(h)
(h) Whenever January 1 or July 1 does not fall on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, any change in weekly benefit rates under this subsection shall apply after the first ensuing Sunday.
108.05(2m)
(2m) Suspension of adjustments. Notwithstanding
sub. (2), no adjustment may be made by the department in any benefit rate under that subsection. This subsection applies only for purposes of benefit payments.
108.05(3)
(3) Benefits for partial unemployment. 108.05(3)(a)(a) Except as provided in
pars. (b) and
(c), if an eligible employee earns wages in a given week, the first $30 of the wages shall be disregarded and the employee's applicable weekly benefit payment shall be reduced by 67% of the remaining amount, except that no such employee is eligible for benefits if the employee's benefit payment would be less than $5 for any week. For purposes of this paragraph, "wages" includes any salary reduction amounts earned that are not wages and that are deducted from the salary of a claimant by an employer pursuant to a salary reduction agreement under a cafeteria plan, within the meaning of
26 USC 125, and any amount that a claimant would have earned in available work which is treated as wages under
s. 108.04 (1) (a), but excludes any amount that a claimant earns for services performed as a volunteer fire fighter, volunteer emergency medical technician or volunteer `first responder. In applying this paragraph, the department shall disregard discrepancies of less than $2 between wages reported by employees and employers.
108.05(3)(b)1.1. A claimant is ineligible to receive any benefits for a week if the claimant is engaged in employment with an employer from which the claimant was paid at least 80% of his or her base period wages and:
108.05(3)(b)1.a.
a. The claimant works for that employer at least 35 hours in that week at the same or a greater rate of pay, excluding bonuses, incentives, overtime or any other supplement to the earnings, as the claimant was paid by that employer in that quarter of the claimant's base period in which the claimant was paid his or her highest wages;
108.05(3)(b)1.b.
b. The claimant receives from that employer sick pay, holiday pay, vacation pay or termination pay which, by itself or in combination with wages earned for work performed in that week for that employer, is equivalent to pay for at least 35 hours of work at that same or a greater rate of pay; or
108.05(3)(b)1.c.
c. The amount that the claimant would have earned within that week from that employer in available work which is treated as wages under
s. 108.04 (1) (a), by itself or in combination with the wages earned for work performed in that week for that employer and the pay received under
subd. 1. b., is equivalent to pay for at least 35 hours of work at that same or a greater rate of pay.
108.05(3)(b)2.
2. For the purposes of this paragraph, "wages" includes any salary reduction amounts earned that are not wages and that are deducted from the salary of a claimant by an employer pursuant to a salary reduction agreement under a cafeteria plan, within the meaning of
26 USC 125.
108.05(3)(b)3.
3. This paragraph does not apply if the claimant is paid solely by way of commissions.
108.05(3)(c)
(c) A claimant is ineligible to receive any benefits for a week in which the claimant works a total of 40 or more hours for one or more employing units.
108.05(4)(a)1.1. Except as provided in
subd. 2., the department shall treat as wages an employee's holiday pay for purposes of eligibility for benefits for partial unemployment under
sub. (3) for a given week only if it has become definitely payable to the employee within 4 days after the close of that week.
108.05(4)(a)2.
2. The department shall treat as wages an employee's holiday pay for purposes of eligibility for benefits for partial unemployment under
sub. (3) for the week that includes December 25 only if it has become definitely payable to the employee within 9 days after the close of that week.
108.05(4)(b)
(b) An employee's vacation pay shall, for purposes of eligibility for benefits for partial unemployment under
sub. (3), be treated as wages for a given week only if it has by the close of that week become definitely allocated and payable to the employee for that week and the employee has had due notice thereof, and only if such pay until fully assigned is allocated:
108.05(4)(b)1.
1. At not less than the employee's approximate full weekly wage rate; or
108.05(4)(b)2.
2. Pursuant to any other reasonable basis of allocation, including any basis commonly used in computing the vacation rights of employees.
108.05(5)
(5) Termination pay. An employee's dismissal or termination pay shall, for purposes of eligibility for benefits for partial unemployment under
sub. (3), be treated as wages for a given week only if it has by the close of that week become definitely allocated and payable to the employee for that week, and the employee has had due notice thereof, and only if such pay, until fully assigned, is allocated:
108.05(5)(a)
(a) At not less than the employee's approximate full weekly wage rate; or
108.05(5)(b)
(b) Pursuant to any other reasonable basis of allocation, including any basis commonly used in computing the termination pay of employees.
108.05(5m)
(5m) Sick pay. For purposes of eligibility for benefits for partial unemployment under
sub. (3), "wages" includes sick pay only when paid or payable directly by an employer at the employee's usual rate of pay.
108.05(6)
(6) Back pay. The department shall treat as wages for benefit purposes any payment made to an individual by or on behalf of his or her employing unit to which that individual is entitled under federal law, the law of any state or a collective bargaining or other agreement and which is in lieu of pay for personal services for past weeks, or which is in the nature of back pay, whether made under an award or decision or otherwise, and which is made no later than the end of the 104-week period beginning with the earliest week to which such pay applies.
108.05(7)(a)1.
1. "Pension payment" means a pension, retirement, annuity, or other similar payment made to a claimant, based on the previous work of that claimant, whether or not payable on a periodic basis, from a governmental or other retirement system maintained or contributed to by an employer from which that claimant has base period wages, other than a payment received under the federal Social Security Act (
42 USC 301 et seq.) that is based in whole or in part upon taxes paid by the claimant.
108.05(7)(a)2.
2. "Rollover" means the transfer of all or part of a pension payment from one retirement plan or account to another retirement plan or account, whether the transfer occurs directly between plan or account trustees, or from the trustee of a plan or account to an individual payee and from that payee to the trustee of another plan or account, regardless of whether the plans or accounts are considered qualified trusts under
26 USC 401.
108.05(7)(b)
(b)
Pension payment information. Any claimant who receives, is entitled to receive or has applied for a pension payment, and any employer by which the claimant was employed in his or her base period, shall furnish the department with such information relating to the payment as the department may request. Upon request of the department, the governmental or other retirement system responsible for making the payment shall report the information concerning the claimant's eligibility for and receipt of payments under that system to the department.
108.05(7)(c)
(c)
Required benefit reduction. Except as provided in
par. (cm), if a claimant actually or constructively receives a pension payment, the department shall reduce benefits otherwise payable to the claimant for a week of partial or total unemployment, but not below zero, if
pars. (d) and
(e) or if
pars. (d) and
(f) apply.
108.05(7)(cm)
(cm)
Payments received under Social Security Act. If a claimant receives a pension payment under the federal Social Security Act (
42 USC 301 et seq.), the department shall not reduce the benefits otherwise payable to the claimant because the claimant contributed to a portion of the pension payment received by the claimant.
108.05(7)(d)1.1. If a pension payment is not paid on a weekly basis, the department shall allocate and attribute the payment to specific weeks if:
108.05(7)(d)1.a.
a. The payment is actually or constructively received on a periodic basis; or
108.05(7)(d)1.b.
b. The payment is actually or constructively received on other than a periodic basis and it has become definitely allocated and payable to the claimant by the close of each such week, and the department has provided due notice to the claimant that the payment will be allocated in accordance with
subd. 2. b.
108.05(7)(d)2.
2. The department shall allocate a pension payment as follows:
108.05(7)(d)2.a.
a. If the payment is actually or constructively received on a periodic basis, the amount allocated to each week is the fraction of the payment attributable to that week.
108.05(7)(d)2.b.
b. If the payment is actually or constructively received on other than a periodic basis, the department shall make the allocation at not less than the claimant's most recent full weekly wage rate, unless the department determines that another basis for the allocation is more reasonable under the circumstances.
108.05(7)(e)
(e)
Total employer funding. If no portion of a pension payment actually or constructively received by a claimant under this subsection is funded by the claimant's contributions, the department shall reduce the weekly benefits payable for a week of partial or total unemployment by an amount equal to the weekly pension amount if:
108.05(7)(e)1.
1. The claimant has base period wages from the employer from which the pension payment is received; and
