Articles Discussing General Topics In Wisconsin Labor & Employment Law.

A bill has been introduced in the Wisconsin Assembly that would add “credit history” to the list of classes protected from discrimination under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act. Assembly Bill 350 was introduced on October 31, 2011. This development follows the introduction of a bill addressing arrest and conviction record discrimination in Wisconsin. (See our article, Wisconsin Employment Law Watch: Legislature to Consider Conviction Record Discrimination Bill.)

A bill has been introduced in the Wisconsin Assembly that would repeal the right of successful complainants to receive an award of compensatory and punitive damages in circuit court under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act. Assembly Bill 289 was introduced on September 29, 2011.

Wisconsin employers that hire employees not legally authorized to work in the United States may risk tough new penalties should Senate Bill 137 become law. The bill, in its current form, does not distinguish between employment of an unauthorized person that is intentional or unintentional. Another bill under consideration, Senate Bill 151, on the other hand, would allow employers to pay their employees for making a customer or client referral. Currently, an employee who receives such payment may be prosecuted under Wisconsin’s gambling statute for a Class B misdemeanor. We discuss the bills below.

Wisconsin will join the 48 other states that allow individuals to carry concealed firearms and other weapons in most places when Governor Scott Walker signs SB93 on July 8, 2011. “Weapons” include handguns, electronic tasers, billyclubs, and knives. If a permit is required, such as for a gun, the permit holder must have gone through training.