A new study from Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL), partnering with Associated Builders & Contractors of Wisconsin (ABC), shows the federal Davis-Bacon Act increases costs while limiting competition for construction jobs in Wisconsin. The Davis-Bacon Act, enacted in 1931, requires construction companies to provide a federally mandated “prevailing wage” on projects funded by […]
Study Finds Federal Davis-Bacon Act Increases Costs, Limits Competition in Wisconsin
Date Fri, May. 29, 2020 - 6:13am By Hamilton
Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Unemployment Insurance Program
Date Thu, May. 28, 2020 - 4:17pm By Hamilton
On May 27, the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform held an informational hearing on Wisconsin’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. The hearing was held as Wisconsin unemployment numbers are at record highs, and many Republican legislators are criticizing Gov. Tony Evers’s administration for reports of major backlogs in UI requests. As noted in the […]
WEDC Releases Reopening Guidelines
Date Wed, May. 13, 2020 - 6:31pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has released reopening guidelines for Wisconsin businesses. The guidelines provide industry-specific documents to guide businesses on how to reopen safely as COVID-19 restrictions loosen. General guidelines for businesses include protecting employees by implementing telework and social distancing, if possible. Employers should also require employees to stay home when sick, promote […]
U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform Poll: Bipartisan Majority of Americans Support COVID-19 Liability Protections
Date Mon, May. 11, 2020 - 12:41pm By Hamilton
A bipartisan majority of Americans support protecting businesses from lawsuits related to coronavirus, according to a U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) poll released earlier this month. “The global pandemic has caused tremendous economic harm to our nation. As employers plan to reopen safely and sustainably, the last thing they need is to face […]
Gov. Evers Releases Badger Bounceback Plan to Reopen the Economy
Date Mon, Apr. 27, 2020 - 11:58am By Hamilton
Gov. Evers and the Department of Health Services (DHS) have issued Emergency Order #31, which establishes a reopening plan for the Wisconsin economy. The “Badger Bounceback Plan” is Gov. Evers’s phased approach for dialing back the Safer at Home order and reopening the Wisconsin economy. Safer at Home currently remains in place, and DHS will […]
WMC Releases “Back to Business” Plan to Reopen Economy
Date Mon, Apr. 27, 2020 - 11:48am By Hamilton
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce last week released its “Back to Business” plan designed to strategically and safely allow Wisconsin businesses to reopen. The plan is a data-driven, regional approach for Wisconsin businesses to resume operation based on a number of risk factors. The plan lets a business input basic information (company name, county, NAICS code) […]
Wisconsin Civil Justice Council, Business Coalition Call for Additional Liability Protections to Help Reopen and Restart the Wisconsin Economy
Date Mon, Apr. 27, 2020 - 11:25am By Hamilton
Wisconsin Civil Justice Council (WCJC) and a coalition of 40 Wisconsin businesses and chambers of commerce are calling for the Legislature to enact civil liability protections to help Wisconsin businesses as the state begins to reopen the economy. The Wall Street Journal recently editorialized calling for quick action, noting plaintiff attorneys are already targeting reopening […]
Legislature Passes Bill to Create Certificates of Qualification for Employment for Ex-Offenders
Date Thu, Feb. 20, 2020 - 4:17pm By Hamilton
This week, the Wisconsin Legislature sent to Gov. Evers’s desk a bill that would create a Council on Offender Employment to issue certificates of qualification for employment (CQEs) to ex-offenders. The bill seeks to reduce recidivism by helping ex-offenders re-enter the workforce. Under the legislation (AB 30), the certificates issued by the Council would qualify […]
Senate Committee Introduces Worker’s Comp, UI Bills
Date Mon, Jan. 27, 2020 - 12:31pm By Hamilton
The Senate Committee on Labor & Regulatory Reform has introduced this session’s Worker’s Compensation and Unemployment Insurance (UI) reform bills. Worker’s Compensation Each session, management and labor members of the Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) come to an agreement and introduce a bill on worker’s compensation reforms. The Senate Committee on Labor & Regulatory […]
Legislators Reintroduce Family Medical Leave Bill
Date Fri, Oct. 25, 2019 - 10:56am By Hamilton
Sen. Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville) and Rep. Sondy Pope (D-Mt. Horeb) are reintroducing a bill that would expand Wisconsin’s Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The legislators circulated for cosponsorship the new FMLA proposal (LRB 0323) on Oct. 22. The bill would expand the application of the FMLA to small businesses with at least 25 permanent […]