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  2. Vocational Rehabilitation
  3. Job Seekers
  4. Subminimum Wage Workers

Need an Alternate Format?

If you have comments regarding any documents on DVR's website or need an alternate format, you may contact us via email at: dvr@dwd.wisconsin.gov

Or you can reach us by phone at: 800-442-3477 (Toll Free)

Services for Subminimum Wage Workers

Under a new federal law called the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), there are new services available from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) for workers earning wages less than the minimum wage. DVR has an agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to provide these services.

If you are in the first year of employment, you should meet every six months to talk about job opportunities and services in your community where you can earn at least the minimum wage.

If you have been working for more than a year, you should meet one time a year to talk about job opportunities and services in your community where you can earn at least the minimum wage.

Annual Outreach and Review Services

Information for Workers

  • DVR has an agreement with UW-Whitewater to meet with each subminimum wage worker in Wisconsin every year.
  • They will work with your employer and will set-up a meeting for you.
  • The meeting with UW-Whitewater will include you (the worker) and your legal guardian or anyone else you want to invite in advance.
  • The meeting can take place at your subminimum wage job location or a location in your community.
  • The meeting will take about an hour and you will need to sign a paper that you had the meeting. Your employer can get copy of the documentation with your permission. They need it for their records.
  • To get ready for the meeting there is not anything you need to do and you can apply for DVR services at any time if you are interested in working in the community.

Information for Subminimum Wage Employers

  • UW-Whitewater will contact you approximately 8 weeks prior to the meetings to work out the meeting details and get up to date contact information for your workers and their guardians to set up the meetings.
  • Please provide information to UW-Whitewater about necessary accommodations in advance of the scheduled meeting.
  • UW-Whitewater will also ask you for information about local transportation providers.
  • The meetings will take place at the work location if that is possible or at other community locations at consumer request.
  • The worker will sign a document at the end of the meeting that indicates that they have participated in the meeting.
  • The worker can give permission to share the documentation with the employer. If they do not grant ttheir permission, you will need to get it from your employee.
  • If you want a copy of that documentation, you will need to get it from your employee. Neither DVR nor UW-Whitewater is able to provide you with a copy.

If you have questions for DVR please contact the DVR Contract Specialist.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Outreach

Wisconsin WIOA Career Interview Project 2018-2019 Annual Report

Internet Resources:

The Department of Education:

The Department of Labor:

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Equal Rights Division:

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development DVR: