Wisconsin’s labor laws are governed and enforced by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and the Wisconsin Statutes, primarily Chapters 103 (Employment Regulations) and 104 (Minimum Wage). Employers must comply with state rules covering minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, wage payments, and mandatory workplace postings.

Below is a fact-checked summary built entirely from official Wisconsin government resources.

Wisconsin minimum wage requirements

Wisconsin’s minimum wage is established under Wis. Stat. Chapter 104 and enforced by DWD’s Equal Rights Division.

According to the official DWD Minimum Wage page:

• General minimum wage: $7.25 per hour
• Tipped employees: $2.33 per hour (employer must ensure tips bring total to at least $7.25/hr)
• Opportunity wage (minors under 20, first 90 days): $5.90/hr
  

Overtime rules in Wisconsin

Wisconsin overtime requirements come from Wis. Admin. Code DWD 274, enforced by DWD.

Employers must pay:

• 1.5 × the employee’s regular rate of pay
• For all hours worked over 40 in a 7-day workweek
  

Wisconsin does not require daily overtime.

Some employee categories are exempt under state and federal law; DWD lists all exemptions on its official website.

Hours of work and required breaks

Wisconsin labor standards do not require meal or rest breaks for adults, but if breaks under 30 minutes are provided, they must be paid.

For minors under 18, Wisconsin requires:

• A 30-minute, duty-free meal break
• Required if working 6 or more consecutive hours
  

Youth employment requirements

Wisconsin has strict child labor regulations under Wis. Stat. Chapter 103.

From the official DWD Child Labor page:

• Most minors under 16 require a work permit.
• There are strict limits on hours, times of day, and types of work.
• Hazardous occupations for minors are prohibited.

Employers hiring minors must keep work permits on file.

Wage payment requirements

Under Wisconsin Statute §109.03, employers must:

• Pay employees at least monthly, or more frequently if promised.
• Pay all earned wages on the agreed-upon payday.
• Provide a statement of deductions with each payment.
  

Permitted & prohibited deductions

Wisconsin law allows only specific deductions, including:

• State/federal taxes
• Court-ordered garnishments
  
• Employee-authorized deductions (in writing), such as:
  
  • uniform purchases
  • meals
  • lodging
  • tools
  • voluntary programs
    

Employers cannot deduct for cash shortages or damages without written authorization meeting DWD standards.

Required workplace posters

The Wisconsin DWD requires employers to display specific posters, including:

• Minimum Wage Rates Poster
• Hours of Work for Minors Poster
• Fair Employment Law Poster
• Bone Marrow/Organ Donation Leave Act Poster (if applicable)
• Business Closing / Mass Layoff Notice (for covered entities)
  

Posters must be displayed in a location accessible to all employees.

Record-keeping requirements

Wisconsin employers must maintain:

• Payroll records
• Hours worked
• Wages paid
• Youth work permits (if applicable)
  

These must be available for inspection by DWD.

At-will employment in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is an at-will employment state, meaning:

• Employers may terminate employment for any lawful reason.
• Employees may resign at any time.
  

Exceptions: discrimination, retaliation, public-policy violations, collective bargaining agreements, and written employment contracts.

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