104.04 Annotation
The department is charged with determining the living wage and carrying out the purposes of ch. 104 by establishing minimum wage rates. The minimum wage affected by the statute is defined as the hourly rate and does not consider benefits except tips, meals, and lodging. A municipal ordinance requiring paid sick leave did not increase the hourly wage rate as the department has defined it. Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Inc. v. City of Milwaukee,
2011 WI App 45,
332 Wis. 2d 459,
798 N.W.2d 287,
09-1874.
104.045
104.045
Tipped employees. The department shall by rule determine what amount of tips or similar gratuities may be counted toward fulfillment of the employer's obligation under this chapter.
104.045 History
History: 1977 c. 179.
104.05
104.05
Complaints; investigation. The department shall, within 20 days after the filing of a verified complaint of any person setting forth that the wages paid to any employee in any occupation are not sufficient to enable the employee to maintain himself or herself under conditions consistent with his or her welfare, investigate and determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the wage paid to any employee is not a living wage.
104.05 History
History: 1975 c. 94;
2005 a. 12.
104.06
104.06
Wage council; determination. If, upon investigation, the department finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that the wages paid to any employee are not a living wage, the department shall appoint a wage council, selected so as fairly to represent employers, employees, and the public, to assist in its investigations and determinations. The living wage so determined upon shall be the living wage for all employees within the same class as established by the classification of the department.
104.06 History
History: 1975 c. 94;
2005 a. 12.
104.07
104.07
Rules; license to employ; student learners; sheltered workshops. 104.07(1)(1) The department shall make rules, and, except as provided under
subs. (5),
(6), and
(7), grant licenses to any employer who employs any employee who is unable to earn the living wage determined by the department, permitting the employee to work for a wage that is commensurate with the employee's ability. Each license so granted shall establish a wage for the licensee.
104.07(2)
(2) The department shall make rules, and, except as provided under
subs. (5),
(6), and
(7), grant licenses to sheltered workshops, to permit the employment of workers with disabilities who are unable to earn the living wage at a wage that is commensurate with their ability and productivity. A license granted to a sheltered workshop under this subsection may be issued for the entire workshop or a department of the workshop.
104.07(3)
(3) No student learner or employee shall be employed at a wage less than the rate so established.
104.07(4)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (bm), the department shall require each applicant for a license under
sub. (1) or
(2) who is an individual to provide the department with the applicant's social security number, and shall require each applicant for a license under
sub. (1) or
(2) who is not an individual to provide the department with the applicant's federal employer identification number, when initially applying for or applying to renew the license.
104.07(4)(b)
(b) If an applicant who is an individual fails to provide the applicant's social security number to the department or if an applicant who is not an individual fails to provide the applicant's federal employer identification number to the department, the department may not issue or renew a license under
sub. (1) or
(2) to or for the applicant unless the applicant is an individual who does not have a social security number and the applicant submits a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation as required under
par. (bm).
104.07(4)(bm)
(bm) If an applicant who is an individual does not have a social security number, the applicant shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the department that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department. A license issued under
sub. (1) or
(2) in reliance upon a false statement submitted under this paragraph is invalid.
104.07(4)(c)
(c) The department of workforce development may not disclose any information received under
par. (a) to any person except to the department of revenue for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under
s. 73.0301 or the department of children and families for purposes of administering
s. 49.22.
104.07(5)
(5) The department of workforce development shall deny, suspend, restrict, refuse to renew, or otherwise withhold a license under
sub. (1) or
(2) for failure of the applicant or licensee to pay court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses, or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse or for failure of the applicant or licensee to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under
s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under
s. 49.857. Notwithstanding
s. 103.005 (10), an action taken under this subsection is subject to review only as provided in the memorandum of understanding entered into under
s. 49.857 and not as provided in
ch. 227.
104.07(6)
(6) The department shall deny an application for the issuance or renewal of a license under
sub. (1) or
(2), or revoke such a license already issued, if the department of revenue certifies under
s. 73.0301 that the applicant or licensee is liable for delinquent taxes. Notwithstanding
s. 103.005 (10), an action taken under this subsection is subject to review only as provided under
s. 73.0301 (5) and not as provided in
ch. 227.
104.07(7)(a)(a) The department may deny an application for the issuance or renewal of a license under
sub. (1) or
(2), or revoke such a license already issued, if the department determines that the applicant or licensee is liable for delinquent contributions, as defined in
s. 108.227 (1) (d). Notwithstanding
s. 103.005 (10), an action taken under this paragraph is subject to review only as provided under
s. 108.227 (5) and not as provided in
ch. 227.
104.07(7)(b)
(b) If the department denies an application or revokes a license under
par. (a), the department shall mail a notice of denial or revocation to the applicant or licensee. The notice shall include a statement of the facts that warrant the denial or revocation and a statement that the applicant or licensee may, within 30 days after the date on which the notice of denial or revocation is mailed, file a written request with the department to have the determination that the applicant or licensee is liable for delinquent contributions reviewed at a hearing under
s. 108.227 (5) (a).
104.07(7)(c)
(c) If, after a hearing under
s. 108.227 (5) (a), the department affirms a determination under
par. (a) that an applicant or licensee is liable for delinquent contributions, the department shall affirm its denial or revocation. An applicant or licensee may seek judicial review under
s. 108.227 (6) of an affirmation by the department of a denial or revocation under this paragraph.
104.07(7)(d)
(d) If, after a hearing under
s. 108.227 (5) (a), the department determines that a person whose license is revoked or whose application is denied under
par. (a) is not liable for delinquent contributions, as defined in
s. 108.227 (1) (d), the department shall reinstate the license or approve the application, unless there are other grounds for revocation or denial. The department may not charge a fee for reinstatement of a license under this paragraph.
104.07 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also s.
DWD 272.09, Wis. adm. code.
104.08(1m)(a)
(a) "Trade" means an occupation involving physical labor and characterized by mechanical skill and training such as render a period of instruction reasonably necessary.
104.08(1m)(b)
(b) "Trade industry" means an industry involving physical labor and characterized by mechanical skill and training such as render a period of instruction reasonably necessary.
104.08(2m)
(2m) Any person working in a trade industry for which a living wage has been established for minors, and who has no trade, shall be employed under an apprentice contract under
s. 106.01.
104.08(3)(a)(a) The department shall investigate, determine, and declare what occupations and industries are included within a "trade" or a "trade industry."
104.08(3)(b)
(b) The department may make exceptions to the operation of
sub. (2m) when conditions make its application unreasonable.
104.08 History
History: 2005 a. 12;
2009 a. 291.
104.09
104.09
Records. Each employer shall keep a record of the names and addresses of all student learners and employees, the hours of employment and wages of each, and such other records pertaining to ability as the department requires, except that an employer is not required to keep a record of the hours of employment of an employee who is exempt under rules promulgated by the department from the requirement under
s. 103.02 that an employee be paid overtime compensation, as defined in
s. 103.025 (1) (c), and who is not compensated on an hourly rate basis.
104.10
104.10
Penalty for intimidating witness. Any employer who discharges or threatens to discharge, or in any way discriminates, or threatens to discriminate against any employee because the employee has testified or is about to testify, or because the employer believes that the employee may testify, in any investigation or proceeding relative to the enforcement of this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of $25 for each offense.
104.10 History
History: 2005 a. 12.
104.11
104.11
Definition of violation. Each day during which any employer shall employ a person for whom a living wage has been fixed at a wage less than the living wage fixed shall constitute a separate and distinct violation of this chapter.
104.11 History
History: 2005 a. 12.
104.12
104.12
Complaints. Any person may register with the department a complaint that the wages paid to an employee for whom a living wage has been established are less than that living wage, and the department shall investigate the matter and take all proceedings necessary to enforce the payment of a wage that is not less than the living wage.
Section 111.322 (2m) applies to discharge and other discriminatory acts arising in connection with any proceeding under this section.
104.12 History
History: 1989 a. 228;
2005 a. 12.
