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  2. Equal Rights
  3. Labor Standards
  4. Labor Standards Complaint Process

Labor Standards Complaint Process

This page was formerly named ERD-10721-P (Revised: 05/2014)

We process claims for unpaid wages under Wis. Stat. ยง109.09. The statute authorizes us to investigate complaints, to attempt to settle unpaid wage disputes, and, when parties cannot agree upon resolution, to issue a determination regarding the wage claim. If wages are found due, the employer may choose to pay the wages. If the employer instead chooses not to pay the wages, we may refer the wage claim for litigation.

If a claim is litigated, the court will decide the matter based upon evidence presented in court without considering our determination. Similarly, if we determine that a wage claim is invalid or we decide not to refer a claim for litigation, the wage claimant may still litigate the case himself/herself in court. Since neither party to a wage claim has a proprietary right impacted by our determination, the claim process does not include a formal appeal of the initial department determination under Wis. Stat. Ch. 227.

Filing a Complaint

Current or former employees may file complaints against a place of employment alleging the employer has not paid all wages due. We may also receive complaints from anyone alleging a place of employment has violated one or more state labor standards requirements (e.g., overtime, minimum wage, employment of minors, etc.). In complaints under the Wisconsin Business Closing and Mass Layoff Law (WBCL), the filing party must be "affected" by the failure to give notice in order to file a complaint with the department. Claims for unpaid wages must be filed either with the department or in court within two years of the date the wages were payable. We will not accept wage claims if payment was due more than two years before the complaint is received.

Retaliation Protection

Wisconsin law prohibits an employer or person from retaliating against an individual for the following reasons:

  1. The individual attempts to enforce a right given to them under state labor standards laws;
  2. The employer or person believes the individual attempted to enforce or may attempt to enforce their rights under state labor standards laws; and
  3. The individual participates in a labor standards investigation by us.

If you believe you are the victim of unlawful retaliation you may file a discrimination complaint with us.

Complaint Investigations

The investigator assigned to the labor standards complaint will mail the employer a letter regarding the complaint and will request the employer to provide a written response to the allegations. With employment of minors and plant closing notification cases, we will investigate the place of employment on behalf of all affected parties employed there. When starting such an investigation, the investigator will seek access to the employer's time and payroll records for all employees. The investigator's primary goal is to determine if the employer complied with the law and, if not, to document violations.

In minimum wage, overtime, and other unpaid wage complaints, we limit the investigation to the persons listed on the complaint form who are potentially owed unpaid wages. Within a few weeks of receiving the complaint, the investigator will inform the employer of the complaint and who filed it, and will give the employer the option of paying the disputed wages or to offer its position regarding the validity of the complaint, including any information the employer may have to support its position. The investigator may seek other information that will be helpful in resolving the wage dispute.

We strive to assist all parties involved in an unpaid wage complaint to reach a voluntary settlement of the complaint. Throughout the investigation of the complaint, the investigator remains willing to discuss settlement of the complaint with the parties. In minimum wage and overtime disputes, however, we cannot settle the complaint for a lower wage than the wage required paid by state law.

We do not represent employers or complainants in unpaid wage complaints. Both employers and complainants have a responsibility to present information that establishes the validity of their respective positions regarding the complaint. Where settlement of the complaint does not occur, the investigator must issue a written decision on the merits of the complaint. In valid complaints, the decision will also advise the employer the amount of wages the investigator believes is due.

Administrative Review of Decisions

If either party disagrees with the initial decision, that party may request that the decision be reviewed by us. The reviewer assigned by us will consider the entire complaint record, including all information previously submitted by the parties. The reviewer will issue a written final determination to all parties. If the complainant is not satisfied with the final determination, the complainant may still pursue collection of the disputed wages in court. If the employer disagrees with the final determination, the employer may elect not to pay those wages. Then, we may forward the complaint to the district attorney in the county where the work was performed, to commence litigation in civil or criminal court to collect the disputed wages.

Litigation of Wage Complaints

State law permits the district attorney to request the court to award employees an additional 100% increased wage beyond the wages found due by the court as compensation for the delayed payment. The district attorney may also elect to prosecute an employer criminally when the employer is able to pay wages and withholds payment to secure a discount on the wages owed or to hinder, harass, annoy, or defraud the employee. Potential criminal penalties include a $500.00 fine and up to 90 days in jail.

For more information