108.04 Annotation
Indefinite layoff severed employment relationship. A. O. Smith Corp. v. ILHR Dept. 88 W (2d) 262, 276 NW (2d) 279 (1979).
108.04 Annotation
Where sole shareholders were also sole employes, their decision as shareholders to file for voluntary bankruptcy disqualified them for unemployment benefits. Hanmer v. ILHR Dept. 92 W (2d) 90, 284 NW (2d) 587 (1979).
108.04 Annotation
Employe who refused on religious grounds to pay mandatory union dues did not voluntarily terminate employment under (7) (a). Nottelson v. DILHR, 94 W (2d) 106, 287 NW (2d) 763 (1980).
108.04 Annotation
Employe who voluntarily terminated part time employment which, prior to termination, had not affected eligibility, became ineligible under (7) (a). Ellingson v. DILHR, 95 W (2d) 710, 291 NW (2d) 649 (Ct. App. 1980).
108.04 Annotation
Employe who was transferred to workplace 25 miles away and who did not receive pay increase to cover increased commuting costs had good cause to quit. Farmers Mill of Athens, Inc. v. DILHR, 97 W (2d) 576, 294 NW (2d) 39 (Ct. App. 1980).
108.04 Annotation
Falsification with respect to criminal record on employment application constitutes "misconduct" under (5), regardless of materiality to employe's particular job. Miller Brewing Co. v. DILHR, 103 W (2d) 496, 308 NW (2d) 922 (Ct. App. 1981).
108.04 Annotation
Objective test for misconduct discussed. Wehr Steel Co. v. DILHR, 106 W (2d) 111, 315 NW (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 W (2d) 714, 321 NW (2d) 347 (Ct. App. 1982).
108.04 Annotation
Under (1) or (7), pregnant employe who could not perform her specific job but could do other work was eligible for benefits. Rhinelander Paper Co., Inc. v. DILHR, 120 W (2d) 162, 352 NW (2d) 679 (Ct. App. 1984).
108.04 Annotation
Teacher who forgot to accept employment offer under 118.22 (2) and who was consequently terminated did not voluntarily terminate employment under 108.04 (7). Nelson v. LIRC, 123 W (2d) 221, 365 NW (2d) 629 (Ct. App. 1985).
108.04 Annotation
Claimant who was physically able to perform less than 15% of jobs in job market was ineligible under (2) (a). Brooks v. LIRC, 138 W (2d) 106, 405 NW (2d) 705 (Ct. App. 1987).
108.04 Annotation
Under (10) (d) "lockout" requires that employer physically bar employes' entrance into workplace; there is no inquiry into cause for work stoppage. Trinwith v. LIRC, 149 W (2d) 634, 439 NW (2d) 581 (Ct. App. 1989).
108.04 Annotation
"Reasonable assurance" under (17) (b) is written, implied or verbal agreement pursuant to which employe will perform similar services during following academic term. Farrell v. LIRC, 147 W (2d) 476, 433 NW (2d) 269 (Ct. App. 1988).
108.04 Annotation
Federal immigration act did not retroactively confer PRUCOL status on alien for compensation purposes under (18). Pickering v. LIRC, 156 W (2d) 361, 456 NW (2d) 874 (Ct. App. 1990).
108.04 Annotation
Teacher was entitled to unemployment benefits during summer break between academic years where teacher was permanently employed for all of first academic year but was offered employment as long term substitute for first semester of second academic year. DILHR v. LIRC, 161 W (2d) 231, 467 NW (2d) 545 (1991).
108.04 Annotation
Sub. (17) (c), 1989 stats., (now (17) (g)), is not applicable to teacher who qualified for benefits although working periodically as substitute. Wanish v. LIRC, 163 W (2d) 901, 472 NW (2d) 596 (Ct. App. 1991).
108.04 Annotation
Employment offers by temporary employment agency at rates substantially lower than prevailing rates for similar work was "good cause" under sub. (7) (b); sub. (7) (f) does not preclude a finding of "good cause" where the offered wage is more than two-thirds of the prior wage. Cornwell Personnel Associates v. LIRC, 175 W (2d) 537, 499 NW (2d) 705 (Ct. App. 1993).
108.04 Annotation
Intent of sub. (16) (b) discussed. Murphy v. LIRC, 183 W (2d) 205, 515 NW (2d) 487 (Ct. App. 1994).
108.04 Annotation
``Suitable work" as used in sub. (8) (a) and ``became unemployed" as used in sub. (8) (d) defined. Hubert v. LIRC, 186 W (2d) 590, 522 NW (2d) 512 (Ct. App. 1994).
108.04 Annotation
Sub. (8) (d) describes a situation where "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 W (2d) 391, 535 NW (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 W (2d) 956, 540 NW (2d) 239 (Ct. App. 1995).
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, and the offer of such a job does not terminate benefits. Bunker v. LIRC, 197 W (2d) 606, 541 NW (2d) 168 (Ct. App. 1995).
108.04 Annotation
Misconduct under sub. (5) is the intentional and substantial disregard of of an employer's interests. The crucial question is the employe's intent or attitude which attends the conduct alleged to be misconduct. Bernhardt v. LIRC, 207 W (2d) 294, 558 NW (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 employe's work and not just a response to separation incentives offered by the employer as a cost-cutting measure. Berry v. LIRC, 213 W (2d) 397, 570 NW (2d) 610 (Ct. App. 1997).
108.04 Annotation
See note to Art I, sec. 18, citing Thomas v. Review Bd. Ind. Empl. Sec. Div. 450 US 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)(h)(h) Each eligible employe shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment which commences on or after January 5, 1997, and before January 4, 1998, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless
sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4% of the employe's base period wages which were paid during that quarter of the employe's base period in which the employe 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 employe and if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employe's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that if the employe's benefits are exhausted during any week under
s. 108.06 (1), the employe shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employe in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (h) following]
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See PDF for table 
108.05(1)(i)
(i) Each eligible employe shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment which commences on or after January 4, 1998, and before January 3, 1999, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless
sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4% of the employe's base period wages which were paid during that quarter of the employe's base period in which the employe 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 employe and if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employe's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that if the employe's benefits are exhausted during any week under
s. 108.06 (1), the employe shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employe in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (i) following]
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See PDF for table 108.05(1)(j)
(j) Each eligible employe shall be paid benefits for each week of total unemployment which commences on or after January 3, 1999, at the weekly benefit rate specified in this paragraph. Unless
sub. (1m) applies, the weekly benefit rate shall equal 4% of the employe's base period wages which were paid during that quarter of the employe's base period in which the employe 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 employe and if that amount is more than the maximum amount shown in the following schedule, the employe's weekly benefit rate shall be the maximum amount shown in the following schedule and except that if the employe's benefits are exhausted during any week under
s. 108.06 (1), the employe shall be paid the remaining amount of benefits payable to the employe in lieu of the amount shown in the following schedule: [See Figure 108.05 (1) (j) following]
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See PDF for table 108.05(1m)
(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 employe, as computed under this section and
s. 108.06 (1), and the amount of benefits otherwise payable to the employe for that week is $5 or less, the benefits payable to the employe 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 employes 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 employes 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
par. (b), if an eligible employe earns wages in a given week, the first $30 of the wages shall be disregarded and the employe's applicable weekly benefit payment shall be reduced by 67% of the remaining amount, except that no such employe is eligible for benefits if the employe'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 or volunteer emergency medical technician. In applying this paragraph, the department shall disregard discrepancies of less than $2 between wages reported by employes 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(4)(a)1.1. Except as provided in
subd. 2., the department shall treat as wages an employe'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 employe within 4 days after the close of that week.
108.05(4)(a)2.
2. The department shall treat as wages an employe'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 employe within 9 days after the close of that week.
108.05(4)(b)
(b) An employe'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 employe for that week and the employe 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 employe'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 employes.
108.05(5)
(5) Termination pay. An employe'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 employe for that week, and the employe 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 employe'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 employes.
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 employe'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.
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. 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)(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
108.05(7)(e)2.
2. The claimant has performed work for that employer since the start of the claimant's base period and that work or remuneration for that work affirmatively affected the claimant's eligibility for or increased the amount of the pension payment.
108.05(7)(f)
(f)
Partial or total employe funding. If any 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 compute the benefits payable for a week of partial or total unemployment as follows:
108.05(7)(f)1.
1. If the pension payment is received under the social security act (
42 USC 301 et seq.) or railroad retirement act (
45 USC 231 et seq.), the department shall reduce the weekly benefits payable for a week of partial or total unemployment by 50% of the weekly pension amount.
108.05(7)(f)2.
2. If the pension payment is received under another retirement system, the claimant has base period wages from the employer from which the pension payment is received, the claimant has performed work for that employer since the start of the claimant's base period, and that work or remuneration for that work affirmatively affected the claimant's eligibility for or increased the amount of the pension payment, the department shall reduce the weekly benefits payable for a week of partial or total unemployment by 50% of the weekly pension amount, or by the percentage of the employer's contribution if acceptable evidence of a contribution by the employer other than 50% is furnished to the department.
108.05(7)(g)
(g)
Constructive receipt. A claimant constructively receives a pension payment under this subsection only for weeks occurring after:
