108.065(1m)
(1m) A professional employer organization is the employer of the employees who it engages to perform services for its client, including a corporate officer if the officer's position is included in the employee leasing agreement with the client.
108.065(2)
(2) A corporation which pays wages to an employee who is concurrently employed by that corporation and one or more related corporations for work performed for the corporation which pays the wages and the related corporation or corporations is the employer of that employee. For purposes of this subsection, if 2 or more corporations are related corporations at any time during a quarter, they are related corporations during that entire quarter.
108.066
108.066
Seasonal employers and seasons. 108.066(1)
(1) Any employer may apply to the department between January 1 and May 31 of any year to be designated a seasonal employer. If mailed, an application shall be postmarked no later than May 31 or received by the department no later than June 3. If June 3 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday under state or federal law, a mailed application shall be received by the department no later than the next following day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday under state or federal law.
108.066(2)
(2) By June 30 of each year the department shall examine each application timely submitted under
sub. (1) and issue a determination as to whether the employer is a seasonal employer. If the department designates an employer as a seasonal employer, the department shall determine the applicable season of the employer under
sub. (4).
108.066(3)
(3) The department shall designate an employer a seasonal employer if:
108.066(3)(a)1.
1. Is in a tourism, recreational, or tourist service industry, including operation of a hotel, inn, camp, tourism attraction, restaurant, ice cream or soft drink stand, drive-in theater, racetrack, park, carnival, country club, golf course, swimming pool, chair lift or ski resort; or
108.066(3)(a)2.
2. Has been classified by the department as primarily engaged in agricultural production, agricultural services, forestry or commercial fishing, hunting or trapping;
108.066(3)(b)
(b) The employer customarily operates primarily during 2 calendar quarters within a year;
108.066(3)(c)
(c) At least 75% of the wages paid by the employer during the year immediately preceding the date of the proposed designation were paid for work performed during the 2 calendar quarters under
par. (b); and
108.066(3)(d)
(d) The employer is not delinquent, at the time of designation, in making any contribution report or payment required under this chapter.
108.066(4)
(4) A seasonal employer's season, for purposes of this section, is the 2 calendar quarters under
sub. (3) (b) which include 75% or more of the employer's payroll for the year preceding the date of the proposed designation.
108.066(5)
(5) The department shall, by June 30 of each year, examine and redetermine whether any employer which it has designated a seasonal employer continues to qualify for designation as a seasonal employer under
sub. (3).
108.066(6)
(6) Any determination or redetermination made under this section is effective on January 1 of the succeeding year.
108.066 History
History: 1991 a. 89;
1993 a. 373.
108.066 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
DWD 147, Wis. adm. code.
108.067
108.067
Professional employer organizations and leasing agreements. 108.067(1)(1) Each professional employer organization that enters into an employee leasing agreement with a client during any calendar quarter shall submit to the department, no later than the due date for payment of contributions under
s. 108.17 (2) relating to that quarter, in the form prescribed by the department, a report disclosing the identity of that client and such other information as the department prescribes.
108.067(2)
(2) If a professional employer organization and client terminate an employee leasing agreement, the professional employer organization and client shall notify the department within 10 working days of the termination.
108.067(3)
(3) Notwithstanding
s. 108.02 (13) (i), if an employer that is a client of a professional employer organization enters into an employee leasing agreement with the organization that results in the discontinuance of all employees of the employer who are engaged in employment, the department shall maintain the employer account of the client for a period of 5 full calendar years after the beginning of the agreement. If the employee leasing agreement is terminated prior to the end of the 5-year period, the client shall so notify the department and resume all responsibilities as the employer of its employees under this chapter as of the date of termination.
Section 108.02 (13) (i) applies if the employee leasing agreement is terminated before the end of the 5-year period and the conditions for termination of coverage set forth in
s. 108.02 (13) (i) exist.
108.067 History
History: 2001 a. 35;
2007 a. 59.
108.068
108.068
Treatment of limited liability companies and members. 108.068(1)(1) Subject to
subs. (2) to
(6) and
(8), the department shall treat a multimember limited liability company as a partnership and shall treat a single-member limited liability company as a sole proprietorship under this chapter unless the company has filed an election with the federal internal revenue service to be treated as a corporation for federal tax purposes and files proof with the department that the internal revenue service has agreed to treat the company as a corporation for such purposes.
108.068(2)
(2) The department shall treat a limited liability company that files proof under
sub. (1) as a corporation under this chapter beginning on the same date that the federal internal revenue service treats the company as a corporation for federal tax purposes, except that for benefit purposes the treatment shall apply to benefit years in existence on or beginning on or after the date that the federal internal revenue service treats the company as a corporation for federal tax purposes if the benefit year to which the treatment is to be applied has not ended on the date that the department first has notice of a benefit eligibility issue that relates to treatment of that limited liability company.
108.068(3)
(3) Subject to
subs. (1),
(2), and
(6) to
(8), a limited liability company that is treated as a corporation for federal tax purposes shall be treated as a corporation under this chapter, and each member of the limited liability company shall be treated as a corporate officer for contribution and benefit purposes.
108.068(4)
(4) Subject to
subs. (2) and
(6) to
(8), a multimember limited liability company that is not treated as a corporation for federal tax purposes shall be treated as a partnership under this chapter, and the members of the limited liability company shall be treated for contribution and benefit purposes as partners of that partnership.
108.068(5)
(5) Subject to
subs. (2) and
(6) to
(8), a single-member limited liability company that is not treated as a corporation for federal tax purposes shall be treated as a sole proprietorship under this chapter, and the member shall be treated as a sole proprietor for contribution and benefit purposes.
108.068(6)
(6) The department may, in the interests of justice or to prevent fraud upon the unemployment insurance program, determine that a member of a limited liability company is an employee of that company.
108.068(7)
(7) Subject to
subs. (2) to
(6), if a limited liability company is treated as a corporation under this chapter the department shall treat the company as a partnership under this chapter, if the company has multiple members or shall treat the company as a sole proprietorship under this chapter if the company has a single member if the company files proof with the department that the internal revenue service has agreed to treat the company as a partnership or sole proprietorship for federal tax purposes.
108.068(8)
(8) The department shall treat a limited liability company that files proof under
sub. (7) as a partnership or sole proprietorship under this chapter beginning on the same date that the federal internal revenue service treats the company as a partnership or sole proprietorship for federal tax purposes, except that for benefit purposes the treatment shall apply to benefit years in existence on or beginning on or after the date that the federal internal revenue service treats the company as a partnership or sole proprietorship for federal tax purposes if the benefit year to which the treatment is to be applied has not ended on the date that the department first has notice of a benefit eligibility issue that relates to treatment of that limited liability company.
108.07
108.07
Liability of employers. 108.07(1)
(1) Except as otherwise provided in
subs. (4),
(5) and
(5m) and
s. 108.04 (13), the department shall charge benefits payable to a claimant who has been paid or is treated as having been paid base period wages with respect to work performed for one employer only to the account of that employer.
108.07(2)
(2) Except as provided in
subs. (3) to
(5), if a claimant has been paid or is treated as having been paid base period wages with respect to work performed for more than one employer, the department shall charge the account of each employer for all benefits paid to the claimant for weeks ending within the employee's benefit year in the same proportion that the base period wages paid or treated as having been paid to the claimant with respect to work performed for that employer bear to the total base period wages paid or treated as having been paid to the claimant.
108.07(3)
(3) Except as provided in
sub. (7), if a claimant earns wages during his or her benefit year for work performed for an employer from which the claimant has base period wages, if a claimant receives sick pay, holiday pay, vacation pay or termination pay that is treated as wages under
s. 108.05, if any amount that the claimant would have earned from that employer is treated as wages under
s. 108.05 (3) (a) or if any combination of wages and such pay or amount is received or treated as received during the claimant's benefit year from such an employer, the department shall charge benefits otherwise chargeable to the account of that employer to the fund's balancing account for each week in which the claimant earns, receives or is treated as receiving such remuneration equal to at least 6.4% of the wages paid by that employer to the claimant during the same quarter of the prior calendar year as the quarter which includes that week.
108.07(3m)
(3m) If a claimant has base period wages with an employer constituting less than 5% of the claimant's total base period wages, the department shall not charge the benefits to the account of that employer. If benefits are otherwise chargeable to the account of any employer whose share of a claimant's total base period wages is less than 5%, the department shall charge the benefits to the remaining employers with which the claimant has base period wages. The department shall distribute such charges in the same proportion that the claimant's base period wages from such employers bear to the claimant's total base period wages from all such employers. This subsection does not apply to claims for benefits based in whole or in part on employment as federal civilian employees or former military personnel under 5 USC
ch. 85, or work covered by the unemployment insurance laws of 2 or more jurisdictions under
s. 108.14 (8n).
108.07(3r)
(3r) Except as otherwise provided in
sub. (7), if a claimant has been paid or is treated as having been paid base period wages with respect to work performed for an employer that is subject to the contribution requirements of
ss. 108.17 and
108.18 and whose account has been charged for benefits paid to that claimant for an immediately preceding benefit year, the department shall not charge the benefits payable in the subsequent benefit year to the account of that employer if the claimant has not had employment with that employer since the start of the immediately preceding benefit year. The department shall charge benefits otherwise chargeable to the account of that employer to the fund's balancing account.
108.07(4)
(4) If benefits based on any employment are chargeable to the fund's balancing account, the department shall not charge the account of the employer who engaged the employee in that employment for those benefits.
108.07(5)
(5) Except as provided in
sub. (7), whenever benefits which would otherwise be chargeable to the fund's balancing account are paid based on wages paid by an employer that is not subject to the contribution requirements of
ss. 108.17 and
108.18, and the benefits are so chargeable under
sub. (3) or
s. 108.04 (1) (f) or
(5) or
108.14 (8n) (e), or under
s. 108.16 (6m) (e) for benefits specified in
s. 108.16 (3) (b), the department shall charge the benefits as follows:
108.07(5)(a)
(a) If no employer from which the claimant has base period wages is subject to the contribution requirements of
ss. 108.17 and
108.18, the benefits shall be charged to the administrative account and paid from the appropriation under
s. 20.445 (1) (gd).
108.07(5)(b)
(b) If one employer from which the claimant has base period wages is not subject to the contribution requirements of
ss. 108.17 and
108.18, and one or more employers from which the claimant has base period wages is subject to the contribution requirements of
ss. 108.17 and
108.18, the benefits shall be charged to the fund's balancing account.
108.07(5)(c)
(c) If 2 or more employers from which the claimant has base period wages are not subject to the contribution requirements of
ss. 108.17 and
108.18, and one or more employers from which the claimant has base period wages are subject to the contribution requirements of
ss. 108.17 and
108.18, that percentage of the employee's benefits which would otherwise be chargeable to the fund's balancing account under
sub. (3) or
s. 108.04 (1) (f) or
(5), or under
s. 108.16 (6m) (e) for benefits specified in
s. 108.16 (3) (b), shall be charged to the administrative account and paid from the appropriation under
s. 20.445 (1) (gd).
108.07(5m)
(5m) Whenever benefits are paid to a claimant based in part on employment by a seasonal employer by which the claimant was employed for a period of less than 90 days during the season of the seasonal employer, as determined under
s. 108.066 (4), and that season includes any portion of the claimant's base period, and the claimant has been paid or is treated as having been paid base period wages or other remuneration of $500 or more during his or her base period for services performed for at least one employer other than the seasonal employer which is subject to the unemployment insurance law of any state or the federal government, the department shall charge to the fund's balancing account the benefits which would otherwise be chargeable to the account of the seasonal employer.
108.07(6)
(6) The department may initially charge benefits otherwise chargeable to the administrative account under this section to the fund's balancing account, and periodically reimburse the charges to the balancing account from the administrative account.
108.07(7)
(7) Whenever benefits are chargeable under
sub. (1) or
(2) based on federal employment, the department shall charge the benefits to the federal government.
108.07(8)(b)
(b) If a claimant is a prisoner of a state prison, as defined in
s. 302.01, and has employment with an employer other than the department of corrections or a private business leasing space within a state prison under
s. 303.01 (2) (em), and the claimant's employment terminates because conditions of incarceration or supervision make it impossible to continue the employment, the department shall charge to the fund's balancing account any benefits based on the terminated employment that are otherwise chargeable to the account of an employer that is subject to the contribution requirements under
ss. 108.17 and
108.18.
108.08(1)(1) To receive benefits for any given week of unemployment, a claimant shall give notice to the department with respect to such week of unemployment within such time and in such manner as the department may by rule prescribe.
108.08(2)
(2) The department may require from any or each employer notification of the partial or total unemployment of the employer's employees, within such time, in such form, and in accordance with such rules as the department may prescribe.
108.08 History
History: 1985 a. 17;
1993 a. 492.
108.08 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
DWD 129, Wis. adm. code.
108.09
108.09
Settlement of benefit claims. 108.09(1)
(1)
Filing. Claims for benefits shall be filed pursuant to department rules. Each employer that is notified of a benefit claim shall promptly inform the department in writing as to any eligibility question in objection to such claim together with the reasons for the objection. The department may also obtain information from the employee concerning the employee's eligibility, employment or wages.
108.09(2)(a)(a) The department shall promptly issue a computation setting forth the employee's potential benefit rights based on reports filed by an employer or employers under
s. 108.205, or on the employee's statement and any other information then available. The results of the computation, a recomputation, or pertinent portion of either, shall be mailed to the last-known address of each party. The department may recompute an employee's potential benefit rights at any time on the basis of subsequent information or to correct a mistake, including an error of law, except that a party's failure to make specific written objection, received by the department within 14 days after the above mailing, as to a computation or recomputation is a waiver by such party of any objection thereto. Any objections to a computation which are not satisfactorily resolved by recomputation shall be resolved by a determination under
par. (b).
108.09(2)(b)
(b) The department shall issue determinations whenever necessary to resolve any matters which may bar, suspend, terminate or otherwise affect the employee's eligibility for benefits.
108.09(2)(bm)
(bm) In determining whether an individual meets the conditions specified in
s. 108.02 (12) (bm) 2. b. or
c. or
(c) 1., the department shall not consider documents granting operating authority or licenses, or any state or federal laws or federal regulations granting such authority or licenses.
108.09(2)(c)
(c) Unless a party has filed a timely request for hearing as to the determination, the department may set aside or amend a determination within 2 years of the date of the determination on the basis of subsequent information or to correct a mistake, including an error of law. Unless a party has filed a timely request for hearing as to the determination, the department may set aside or amend a determination at any time if the department finds that:
108.09(2)(c)2.
2. The benefits paid or payable to a claimant have been affected by wages earned by the claimant which have not been paid, and the department is provided with notice from the appropriate state or federal court or agency that a wage claim for those wages will not be paid in whole or in part.
108.09(2)(cm)
(cm) Unless a party has filed a timely request for review of the decision of an appeal tribunal by the commission or has commenced a timely action for the judicial review of the decision of the commission, the department may set aside or amend any appeal tribunal decision adverse to a claimant that has been issued under s.
108.09, 1995 stats., within the 4-year period immediately preceding January 4, 1998, or may reverse, modify or set aside any decision of the commission adverse to a claimant that has been issued under s.
108.09, 1995 stats., within the 4-year period immediately preceding January 4, 1998, if the department finds that the benefits paid or payable to the claimant have been affected by wages earned by the claimant which have not been paid, and the department is provided with notice from the appropriate state or federal court or agency that a wage claim for those wages will not be paid in whole or in part.
108.09(2)(d)
(d) A copy of each determination shall be mailed to the last-known address of each of the parties, except that a party's copy of any determination may be given to such party instead of being mailed.
108.09(2r)
(2r) Hearing request. Any party to a determination may request a hearing as to any matter in that determination if such request is made in accordance with procedure prescribed by the department and is received by the department or postmarked within 14 days after a copy of the determination was mailed or given to such party, whichever first occurs.
108.09(3)(a)1.1. To hear and decide disputed claims, the department shall establish appeal tribunals. Except as authorized in this paragraph, each tribunal shall consist of an individual who is a permanent employee of the department.
108.09(3)(a)2.
2. The department may appoint an individual who is not a permanent employee of the department to serve as a temporary reserve appeal tribunal if the individual formerly served as an appeal tribunal while employed by the department and retired from state service as a permanent employee. An individual who is appointed to serve as a temporary reserve appeal tribunal shall be an attorney who is licensed to practice in this state.
108.09(3)(a)3.
3. Upon request of a party to an appeal or upon its own motion, the department may appoint an individual who is not a permanent employee of the department to hear an appeal in which the department or an employee or former employee of the department is an interested party. No individual may hear any appeal in which the individual is a directly interested party.
108.09(3)(b)
(b) The appeal tribunal may affirm, reverse or modify the initial determination of the department or set aside the determination and remand the matter to the department for further proceedings, or may remand to the department for consideration of any issue not previously investigated by the department.
108.09(4)(a)(a) Opportunity to be heard. Unless the request for a hearing is withdrawn, each of the parties shall be afforded reasonable opportunity to be heard, and the claim thus disputed shall be promptly decided by such appeal tribunal as the department designates or establishes for this purpose.
108.09(4)(b)
(b) Scheduling of hearing. At the discretion of the department or the appeal tribunal the hearing may be held in more than one location and may be continued, adjourned or postponed from time to time.
108.09(4)(c)
(c)
Late appeal. If a party files an appeal which is not timely, an appeal tribunal shall review the appellant's written reasons for filing the late appeal. If those reasons, when taken as true and construed most favorably to the appellant, do not constitute a reason beyond the appellant's control, the appeal tribunal may dismiss the appeal without a hearing and issue a decision accordingly. Otherwise, the department may schedule a hearing concerning the question of whether the appeal was filed late for a reason that was beyond the appellant's control. The department may also provisionally schedule a hearing concerning any matter in the determination being appealed. After hearing testimony on the late appeal question, the appeal tribunal shall issue a decision which makes ultimate findings of fact and conclusions of law concerning whether the appellant's appeal was filed late for a reason that was beyond the appellant's control and which, in accordance with those findings and conclusions, either dismisses the appeal or determines that the appeal was filed late for a reason that was beyond the appellant's control. If the appeal is not dismissed, the same or another appeal tribunal established by the department for this purpose, after conducting a hearing, shall then issue a decision under
sub. (3) (b) concerning any matter in the determination.
108.09(4)(d)1.1. If the appellant fails to appear at a hearing held under this section and due notice of the hearing was mailed to the appellant's last-known address, the appeal tribunal shall issue a decision dismissing the request for hearing unless
subd. 2. applies.
108.09(4)(d)2.
2. If the appellant delivers or transmits a written explanation for nonappearance to the department which is received before a decision under
subd. 1. is mailed, the department may so notify each party and schedule a hearing concerning whether there was good cause for the appellant's nonappearance. The department may also provisionally schedule a hearing concerning any matter in the determination. If, after hearing testimony, the appeal tribunal finds that the appellant's explanation does not establish good cause for nonappearance, the appeal tribunal shall issue a decision containing this finding and dismissing the appeal. If, after hearing testimony, the appeal tribunal finds that the appellant's explanation establishes good cause for nonappearance, the appeal tribunal shall issue a decision containing this finding. The same or another appeal tribunal established by the department for this purpose shall then issue a decision under
sub. (3) (b) after conducting a hearing concerning any matter in the determination.
108.09(4)(d)3.
3. If the appellant delivers or transmits a written explanation for nonappearance to the department which is received within 21 days after a decision under
subd. 1. is mailed, the appeal tribunal may set aside the decision dismissing the appeal and the department may schedule a hearing concerning whether there was good cause for the appellant's nonappearance. The department may also provisionally schedule a hearing concerning any matter in the determination. If, after hearing testimony, the appeal tribunal finds that the appellant's explanation does not establish good cause for nonappearance, the appeal tribunal shall issue a decision containing this finding and reinstating the dismissal. If, after hearing testimony, the appeal tribunal finds that the appellant's explanation establishes good cause for nonappearance, the appeal tribunal shall issue a decision containing this finding. The same or another appeal tribunal established by the department for this purpose shall then issue a decision under
sub. (3) (b) after conducting a hearing concerning any matter in the determination.
108.09(4)(e)1.1. If the respondent fails to appear at a hearing held under this section but the appellant is present, and due notice of the hearing was mailed to the respondent's last-known address, the appeal tribunal shall hold the hearing and shall issue a decision under
sub. (3) (b) unless
subd. 2. applies.
108.09(4)(e)2.
2. If the respondent delivers or transmits a written explanation for nonappearance to the department which is received before a decision favorable to the respondent is mailed under
subd. 1., the appeal tribunal shall acknowledge receipt of the explanation in its decision but shall take no further action concerning the explanation at that time. If the respondent delivers or transmits a written explanation for nonappearance to the department which is received before a decision unfavorable to the respondent is mailed under
subd. 1., the department may so notify each party and may schedule a hearing concerning whether there was good cause for the respondent's nonappearance. The department may also provisionally schedule a hearing for further testimony concerning any matter in the determination. If, after hearing testimony, the appeal tribunal finds that the respondent's explanation does not establish good cause for nonappearance, the appeal tribunal shall issue a decision containing this finding. The same or another appeal tribunal established by the department for this purpose shall also issue a decision based on the testimony and other evidence presented at the hearing at which the respondent failed to appear. If, after hearing testimony, the appeal tribunal finds that the respondent's explanation establishes good cause for nonappearance, the appeal tribunal shall issue a decision containing this finding. The same or another appeal tribunal established by the department for this purpose shall then issue a decision under
sub. (3) (b) after conducting a hearing concerning any matter in the determination. If such a 2nd hearing is held concerning any matter in the determination, the appeal tribunal shall only consider testimony and other evidence admitted at that hearing in making a decision.
108.09(4)(e)3.
3. If the respondent delivers or transmits a written explanation for nonappearance to the department which is received within 21 days after a decision favorable to the respondent is mailed under
subd. 1., the department shall notify the respondent of receipt of the explanation and that since the decision was favorable to the respondent no further action concerning the explanation will be taken at that time. If the respondent delivers or transmits a written explanation for nonappearance to the department which is received within 21 days after a decision unfavorable to the respondent is mailed under
subd. 1., the appeal tribunal may set aside the original decision and the department may schedule a hearing concerning whether there was good cause for the respondent's nonappearance. The department may also provisionally schedule a hearing concerning any matter in the determination. If the original decision is not set aside, the appeal tribunal may on its own motion amend or set aside that decision within 21 days after the decision concerning whether there was good cause for the respondent's nonappearance is mailed under
subd. 1. If, after hearing testimony, the appeal tribunal finds that the respondent's explanation does not establish good cause for nonappearance, the appeal tribunal shall issue a decision containing this finding and, if necessary, reinstating the decision which was set aside. If, after hearing testimony, the appeal tribunal finds that the respondent's explanation establishes good cause for nonappearance, the same or another appeal tribunal established by the department for this purpose shall issue a decision containing this finding. The same or another appeal tribunal established by the department for this purpose shall then issue a decision under
sub. (3) (b) after conducting a hearing concerning any matter in the determination. If such a 2nd hearing is held concerning any matter in the determination, the appeal tribunal shall only consider the testimony and other evidence admitted at that hearing in making a decision.
108.09(4)(f)1.1. Except as provided in
par. (e) 3., within 21 days after its decision was mailed to the parties the appeal tribunal may on its own motion amend or set aside its decision and may thereafter make new findings and issue a decision on the basis of evidence previously submitted in such case, or the same or another appeal tribunal may make new findings and issue a decision after taking additional testimony.
108.09(4)(f)2.
2. Unless a party has filed a timely petition for review of the appeal tribunal decision by the commission, the appeal tribunal may set aside or amend an appeal tribunal decision, or portion thereof, at any time if the appeal tribunal finds that:
