Today two legislative members of the Task Force on Employee Misclassification announced four bills that combat worker misclassification will be reintroduced this session. State Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) and Senator Bob Wirch (D-Kenosha) sent out a cosponsorship request to the entire Legislature in hopes of robust support for the bills.
“This package of legislation emerged from the bipartisan work of the Misclassification Task Force, and should garner support from both sides of the aisle.” Rep. Sinicki explained. “All four of its bills are good for workers and for upstanding businesses in Wisconsin, and that’s what we all want.”
The Task Force started its work in 2019, and included members from private sector management, unions, all four legislative caucuses, and state agencies. Their work was summarized in a 2021 report.
Senator Wirch (D-Somers) stated, “Worker misclassification is the theft of fair wages and benefits from employees; it steals payroll tax dollars needed to fund critical services; and it steals business from managers and business owners who are doing things the right way. I hope our Republican colleagues will join us to level the playing field.”
When an employer falsely identifies their employees as independent contractors, then they have “misclassified” them. Under the law, workers are presumed to be employees unless the employer proves that workers meet legal criteria to be independent contractors.
Other legislators agree. “Misclassification is a significant threat to the rights and protections every worker deserves,” Rep. Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha) pointed out. “We must safeguard the livelihoods of individuals and promote responsible business practices, where dedication is met with recognition, not exploitation.”
Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) summarized by saying that, “No one should be allowed to cheat the system, and worker misclassification harms Wisconsin’s hard-working people and businesses that play by the rules. By cracking down on this harmful practice, these bills create a level playing field for everyone. Our bill package sends a strong message — our state rewards honest work, not scammers.”
The four bills to be reintroduced address, among other topics, contractor registration; business and worker education on the topic; and fraud reporting.
The bills last session were Assembly Bills 1126, 1127, 1128, 1129, and their Senate companions.
