Chapter 103

103.06(6)(e) (e) In addition to any forfeiture for which the employer may be liable under sub. (5) (c) and any other penalty for which the employer may be liable for a violation of a requirement specified in sub. (3) (a), any employer that violates a final order to stop work of the department under sub. (5) (b) or final decision of an appeal tribunal, the commission, or a court affirming such an order under par. (b), (c), or (d) is subject to a forfeiture of $1,000 for each day of violation. An employer may seek review of a forfeiture imposed under this paragraph in the same manner as an order to stop work is reviewed under pars. (a) to (d).

103.06(7) (7) Other enforcement action not precluded. An investigation, order, or decision under sub. (4), (5), or (6) does not preclude or otherwise impair or affect any other action that is required or permitted to enforce a requirement under this chapter or under ch. 101, 102, 104, 108, 109, or 111, including any investigation, order, or decision; any civil or criminal action or administrative proceeding; or any obligation for any payment, reimbursement, assessment, surcharge, forfeiture, or other remedy or penalty under any of those chapters.

103.06(8) (8) Recovery of unpaid forfeitures.

103.06(8)(a) (a) If an employer fails to pay a forfeiture imposed under sub. (5) (c) or (6) (e), the department has a perfected lien upon the employer’s right, title, and interest in all of its real and personal property located in this state in the amount finally determined to be owed, plus costs. Except when creation of a lien is barred or stayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency law, the lien is effective when the stop work order or decision affirming the stop work order becomes final and shall continue until the amount owed, plus costs and interest to the date of payment, is paid. The employer shall pay interest on the amount owed at the rate of 1 percent per month or fraction of a month from the date on which the amount became due. If a lien is initially barred or stayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency law, the lien shall become effective immediately upon expiration or removal of the bar or stay. The perfected lien does not give the department priority over any lienholders, mortgagees, purchasers for value, judgment creditors, or pledges whose interests have been recorded before the lien of the department is recorded.

103.06(8)(b) (b)

103.06(8)(b)1. 1. If an employer fails to pay to the department any amount found to be due the department in proceedings under this section and if no proceeding for review is pending and the time for taking an appeal or review has expired, the department or any authorized representative of the department may issue a warrant directed to the clerk of circuit court for any county of the state. The clerk of circuit court shall enter in the judgment and lien docket the name of the employer mentioned in the warrant and the amount of the forfeiture, interest, costs, and other fees for which the warrant is issued and the date when the warrant is entered. A warrant so entered shall be considered in all respects to be a final judgment constituting a perfected lien upon the employer’s right, title, and interest in all real and personal property located in the county where the warrant is entered. The lien is effective when the department issues the warrant and shall continue until the amount owed, including interest, costs, and other fees to the date of payment, is paid. After a warrant is entered in the judgment and lien docket, the department or any authorized representative of the department may file an execution with the clerk of circuit court for filing by the clerk of circuit court with the sheriff of any county where real or personal property of the employer is found, commanding the sheriff to levy upon and sell sufficient real and personal property of the employer to pay the amount stated in the warrant in the same manner as upon an execution against property issued upon the judgment of a court of record, and to return the warrant of the department and pay to the department the money collected by virtue of the execution within 60 days after receipt of the warrant.

103.06(8)(b)2. 2. The clerk of circuit court shall accept, file, and enter each warrant, satisfaction, release, or withdrawal under this subsection in the judgment and lien docket without prepayment of any fee, but the clerk of circuit court shall submit a statement of the proper fee semiannually to the department covering the period from January 1 to June 30 and July 1 to December 31 unless a different billing period is agreed to between the clerk of circuit court and the department. The fees shall then be paid by the department, but the fees provided by s. 814.61 (5) for entering the warrants shall be added to the amount of the warrant and collected from the employer when satisfaction or release is presented for entry.

103.06(8)(c) (c) When the penalties set forth in a warrant together with interest and other fees to the date of payment and all costs due the department have been paid to the department, the department shall issue a satisfaction of the warrant and file that satisfaction with the clerk of circuit court. The clerk of circuit court shall immediately enter a satisfaction of the judgment on the judgment and lien docket. The department shall send a copy of the satisfaction to the employer.

103.06(8)(d) (d) If the department finds that the interests of the state will not be jeopardized, the department, upon such conditions as it may exact, may issue a release of any warrant with respect to any real or personal property upon which the warrant is a lien or cloud upon title. The clerk of the circuit court shall enter the release upon presentation of the release to the clerk and payment of the fee for filing the release and the release shall be conclusive proof that the lien or cloud upon the title of the property covered by the release is extinguished.

103.06(8)(e) (e) If the department issues an erroneous warrant, the department shall issue a notice of withdrawal of the warrant to the clerk of circuit court for the county in which the warrant is filed. The clerk shall void the warrant and any liens attached by the warrant.

103.06(9) (9) Levy for delinquent forfeitures. If any employer who is liable for any forfeiture under sub. (5) (c) or (6) (e) neglects or refuses to pay that forfeiture after the department has made demand for payment, the department may collect that forfeiture and expenses of the levy by levy upon any property belonging to the employer. Section 108.225 applies to a levy under this subsection except as follows:

103.06(9)(a) (a) For purposes of a levy under this subsection, “debt” as used in s. 108.225 means a delinquent forfeiture under sub. (5) (c) or (6) (e) or any liability of a 3rd party for failure to surrender to the department property or rights to property subject to levy after proceedings under ss. 108.10 and 108.225 to determine that liability.

103.06(9)(b) (b) Section 108.225 (16) (a) and not s. 108.225 (16) (am) applies to a levy under this subsection.

103.06 History History: 2009 a. 292; 2015 a. 55.

103.10 103.10 Family or medical leave.

103.10(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

103.10(1)(a) (a) “Child” means a natural, adopted, or foster child, a stepchild, or a legal ward to whom any of the following applies:

103.10(1)(a)1. 1. The individual is less than 18 years of age.

103.10(1)(a)2. 2. The individual is 18 years of age or older and cannot care for himself or herself because of a serious health condition.

103.10(1)(am) (am) “Christian Science practitioner” means a Christian Science practitioner residing in this state who is listed as a practitioner in the Christian Science journal.

103.10(1)(ar) (ar) “Domestic partner” has the meaning given in s. 40.02 (21c) or 770.01 (1).

103.10(1)(b) (b) Except as provided in sub. (1m) (b) 2. and s. 452.38, “employee” means an individual employed in this state by an employer, except the employer’s parent, spouse, domestic partner, or child.

103.10(1)(c) (c) Except as provided in sub. (1m) (b) 3., “employer” means a person engaging in any activity, enterprise or business in this state employing at least 50 individuals on a permanent basis. “Employer” includes the state and any office, department, independent agency, authority, institution, association, society or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law, including the legislature and the courts.

103.10(1)(d) (d) “Employment benefit” means an insurance, leave or retirement benefit which an employer makes available to an employee.

103.10(1)(e) (e) “Health care provider” means a person described under s. 146.81 (1) (a) to (p), but does not include a person described under s. 146.81 (1) (hp).

103.10(1)(f) (f) “Parent” means a natural parent, foster parent, adoptive parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or of an employee’s spouse or domestic partner.

103.10(1)(g) (g) “Serious health condition” means a disabling physical or mental illness, injury, impairment or condition involving any of the following:

103.10(1)(g)1. 1. Inpatient care in a hospital, as defined in s. 50.33 (2), nursing home, as defined in s. 50.01 (3), or hospice.

103.10(1)(g)2. 2. Outpatient care that requires continuing treatment or supervision by a health care provider.

103.10(1)(h) (h) “Spouse” means an employee’s legal husband or wife.

103.10(1m) (1m) Statewide concern; uniformity.

103.10(1m)(a) (a) The legislature finds that the provision of family and medical leave that is uniform throughout the state is a matter of statewide concern and that the enactment of an ordinance by a city, village, town, or county that requires employers to provide employees with leave from employment, paid or unpaid, for any of the reasons specified in par. (c) would be logically inconsistent with, would defeat the purpose of, and would go against the spirit of this section. Therefore, this section shall be construed as an enactment of statewide concern for the purpose of providing family and medical leave that is uniform throughout the state.

103.10(1m)(b) (b) In this subsection:

103.10(1m)(b)1. 1. “Domestic abuse” has the meaning given in s. 968.075 (1) (a).

103.10(1m)(b)2. 2. “Employee” has the meaning given in s. 104.01 (2) (a).

103.10(1m)(b)3. 3. “Employer” has the meaning given in s. 104.01 (3) (a).

103.10(1m)(b)4. 4. “Family member” means a spouse or domestic partner of an employee; a parent, child, sibling, including a foster sibling, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandparent, stepgrandparent, or grandchild of an employee or of an employee’s spouse or domestic partner; or any other person who is related by blood, marriage, or adoption to an employee or to an employee’s spouse or domestic partner and whose close association with the employee, spouse, or domestic partner makes the person the equivalent of a family member of the employee, spouse, or domestic partner.

103.10(1m)(b)5. 5. “Health condition” means a physical or mental illness, injury, impairment, or condition.

103.10(1m)(b)6. 6. “Sexual abuse” means conduct that is in violation of s. 940.225, 944.30 (1m), 948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.051, 948.055, 948.06, 948.085, 948.09, or 948.10 or that is in violation of s. 940.302 (2) if s. 940.302 (2) (a) 1. b. applies.

103.10(1m)(b)7. 7. “Stalking” means to engage in a course of conduct, as defined in s. 940.32 (1) (a), that meets the criteria of s. 940.32 (2) (a).

103.10(1m)(c) (c) Subject to par. (d), a city, village, town, or county may not enact and administer an ordinance requiring an employer to provide an employee with leave from employment, paid or unpaid, for any of the following reasons:

103.10(1m)(c)1. 1. Because the employee has a health condition, is in need of medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a health condition, or is in need of preventive medical care.

103.10(1m)(c)2. 2. To care for a family member who has a health condition, who is in need of medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a health condition, or who is in need of preventive medical care.

103.10(1m)(c)3. 3. Because the employee’s absence from work is necessary in order for the employee to do any of the following:

103.10(1m)(c)3.a. a. Seek medical attention or obtain psychological or other counseling for the employee or a family member to recover from any health condition caused by domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking.

103.10(1m)(c)3.b. b. Obtain services for the employee or a family member from an organization that provides services to victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking.

103.10(1m)(c)3.c. c. Relocate the residence of the employee or of a family member due to domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking.

103.10(1m)(c)3.d. d. Initiate, prepare for, or testify, assist, or otherwise participate in any civil or criminal action or proceeding relating to domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking.

103.10(1m)(c)4. 4. To deal with any other family, medical, or health issues of the employee or of a family member.

103.10(1m)(d) (d) This subsection does not affect an ordinance affecting leave from employment of an employee of a city, village, town, or county.

103.10(1m)(e) (e) Any city, village, town, or county ordinance requiring an employer to provide an employee with leave from employment, paid or unpaid, for any of the reasons specified in par. (c) that is in effect on May 20, 2011, is void.

103.10(2) (2) Scope.

103.10(2)(a) (a) Nothing in this section prohibits an employer from providing employees with rights to family leave or medical leave which are more generous to the employee than the rights provided under this section.

103.10(2)(b) (b) This section does not limit or diminish an employee’s rights or benefits under ch. 102.

103.10(2)(c) (c) This section only applies to an employee who has been employed by the same employer for more than 52 consecutive weeks and who worked for the employer for at least 1,000 hours during the preceding 52-week period.

103.10(3) (3) Family leave.

103.10(3)(a) (a)

103.10(3)(a)1. 1. In a 12-month period no employee may take more than 6 weeks of family leave under par. (b) 1. and 2.

103.10(3)(a)2. 2. In a 12-month period no employee may take more than 2 weeks of family leave for the reasons specified under par. (b) 3.

103.10(3)(a)3. 3. In a 12-month period no employee may take more than 8 weeks of family leave for any combination of reasons specified under par. (b).

103.10(3)(b) (b) An employee may take family leave for any of the following reasons:

103.10(3)(b)1. 1. The birth of the employee’s natural child, if the leave begins within 16 weeks of the child’s birth.

103.10(3)(b)2. 2. The placement of a child with the employee for adoption or as a precondition to adoption under s. 48.90 (2), but not both, if the leave begins within 16 weeks of the child’s placement.

103.10(3)(b)3. 3. To care for the employee’s child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent, if the child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent has a serious health condition.

103.10(3)(c) (c) Except as provided in par. (d), an employee shall schedule family leave after reasonably considering the needs of his or her employer.

103.10(3)(d) (d) An employee may take family leave as partial absence from employment. An employee who does so shall schedule all partial absence so it does not unduly disrupt the employer’s operations.

103.10(4) (4) Medical leave.

103.10(4)(a) (a) Subject to pars. (b) and (c), an employee who has a serious health condition which makes the employee unable to perform his or her employment duties may take medical leave for the period during which he or she is unable to perform those duties.

103.10(4)(b) (b) No employee may take more than 2 weeks of medical leave during a 12-month period.

103.10(4)(c) (c) An employee may schedule medical leave as medically necessary.

103.10(5) (5) Payment for and restrictions upon leave.

103.10(5)(a) (a) This section does not entitle an employee to receive wages or salary while taking family leave or medical leave.

103.10(5)(b) (b) An employee may substitute, for portions of family leave or medical leave, paid or unpaid leave of any other type provided by the employer.

103.10(6) (6) Notice to employer.

103.10(6)(a) (a) If an employee intends to take family leave for the reasons in sub. (3) (b) 1. or 2., the employee shall, in a reasonable and practicable manner, give the employer advance notice of the expected birth or placement.

103.10(6)(b) (b) If an employee intends to take family leave because of the planned medical treatment or supervision of a child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent or intends to take medical leave because of the planned medical treatment or supervision of the employee, the employee shall do all of the following:

103.10(6)(b)1. 1. Make a reasonable effort to schedule the medical treatment or supervision so that it does not unduly disrupt the employer’s operations, subject to the approval of the health care provider of the child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, or employee.

103.10(6)(b)2. 2. Give the employer advance notice of the medical treatment or supervision in a reasonable and practicable manner.

103.10(7) (7) Certification.

103.10(7)(a) (a) If an employee requests family leave for a reason described in sub. (3) (b) 3. or requests medical leave, the employer may require the employee to provide certification, as described in par. (b), issued by the health care provider or Christian Science practitioner of the child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, or employee, whichever is appropriate.

103.10(7)(b) (b) No employer may require certification stating more than the following:

103.10(7)(b)1. 1. That the child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, or employee has a serious health condition.

103.10(7)(b)2. 2. The date the serious health condition commenced and its probable duration.

103.10(7)(b)3. 3. Within the knowledge of the health care provider or Christian Science practitioner, the medical facts regarding the serious health condition.

103.10(7)(b)4. 4. If the employee requests medical leave, an explanation of the extent to which the employee is unable to perform his or her employment duties.

103.10(7)(c) (c) The employer may require the employee to obtain the opinion of a 2nd health care provider, chosen and paid for by the employer, concerning any information certified under par. (b).

103.10(8) (8) Position upon return from leave.

103.10(8)(a) (a) Subject to par. (c), when an employee returns from family leave or medical leave, his or her employer shall immediately place the employee in an employment position as follows:

103.10(8)(a)1. 1. If the employment position which the employee held immediately before the family leave or medical leave began is vacant when the employee returns, in that position.