• Wisconsin labor laws define the reasonable conditions and protocol for work done throughout the state.hard hat image by jovica antoski from Fotolia.com
  
  Wisconsin employment law regulates processes and standards to ensure fair treatment and reasonable conditions for employees throughout the state. Topics covered by labor law include wage and work-week standards; discrimination; family, medical and rehabilitation leave; unemployment insurance; and worker's compensation.
  
  

Working Hours

• Wisconsin labor law does not entitle adult workers to any breaks or mealtimes during a work shift, though mealtimes close to traditional eating times are encouraged. Workers under 18, however, are entitled to a 30-minute meal period for every six consecutive hours of work. If any worker is granted a break of under 30 minutes, it will be considered time worked. Likewise, if any worker is given an "on-duty" meal period, it must be considered time worked and paid accordingly. Employees in retail or manufacturing industries are entitled to one full day of rest per week. This also may be taken as two days of rest after 12 days of work, and so forth.
  
  

Wages

• Wisconsin's general minimum wage in 2009 was $7.29 per hour. As the minimum wage is subject to periodic change due to inflation, consulting a current index is always advisable. For opportunity employees, defined as those under 20 years of age and employed by a given employer for less than 90 days, the minimum wage was $5.90 per hour. For workers receiving regular tips, such as restaurant waitstaff, the minimum wage was $2.33 and $2.13 for opportunity employees. Agricultural employees, whether adults or minors, have a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, and caddies must receive at least $5.90 for nine holes of golf or $10.50 for 18 holes.
  
  

Family and Medical Leave

• Based on the Wisconsin Family And Medical Leave Act, all companies with at least 50 employees must permit up to six weeks of leave within 12 months to any employees becoming parents to either biological or adopted children. Such employers also must allow any employees up to two weeks of leave within 12 months if they need to care for children, spouses, parents or domestic partners with serious health conditions. Likewise, employees experiencing serious health conditions must receive up to two weeks of leave in a 12-month period. Furthermore, employers are specifically prohibited from taking any punitive or damaging actions, to interfere with employees taking legal leave. Employers with at least 50 employees must post the state-determined policies for leave. Those employers with at least 25 employees must post their own policies related to leave.