Wisconsin Employment Laws

One of the broadest anti-discrimination laws in the nation. Protected classes: age (40+), race, color, sex, sexual orientation (first state to include, since 1982), creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest record, conviction record, military service, use of lawful products off-premises, and genetic testing. Applies to employers with just 1+ employee (federal is 15+).

Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25/hr — matching the federal rate. Tipped employees: $2.33/hr. No state-level movement to increase above federal as of 2025.

Wisconsin became a right-to-work state on March 11, 2015. Prohibits requiring employees to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment. Applies to new or renewed collective bargaining agreements after March 11, 2015.

In addition to federal FLSA overtime (1.5x over 40 hours/week), Wisconsin requires overtime for factory and manufacturing employees working more than 10 hours in a single day.

Wisconsin has its own FMLA providing up to 6 weeks of unpaid leave for birth/adoption and 2 weeks for serious health conditions per year. This supplements (and predates) the federal FMLA.