Wisconsin Employment Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Wisconsin employment attorneys who handle WFEA discrimination, wage, retaliation, and wrongful-termination claims for workers across Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, and Racine. Whether you're facing a manufacturing termination, a healthcare retaliation, or a non-compete dispute, we'll match you with the right attorney — at no cost.

File with the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division (ERD) of the Department of Workforce Development within 300 days. ERD has a work-share with the EEOC. After investigation, you can elect to proceed to administrative hearing or court.
WFEA covers race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age (40+), national origin, ancestry, disability, arrest record, conviction record (with limits), marital status, sexual orientation, military service, use or nonuse of lawful products off the job, declining to attend employer-sponsored meetings on religious or political matters, and genetic information. Wisconsin was the first state to protect sexual orientation in employment (1982).
Subject to strict scrutiny. Wis. Stat. § 103.465 imposes a no-blue-pencil rule — if any part of the non-compete is unreasonable, the entire agreement is void. This makes Wisconsin one of the strictest non-compete states. The agreement must be reasonable in time, geography, scope, and protectable interest, and supported by valuable consideration.
WI tracks federal at $7.25/hour.
Not at the state level. Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act (Wis. Stat. § 103.10) provides limited unpaid leave (6 weeks for parental/family medical, plus medical leave) for employers with 50+ employees. No paid leave.
No. Wis. Stat. § 102.35 prohibits retaliation for workers' comp claims.
Not without legal review.

Why Do You Need a Employment Attorney in Wisconsin?

The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA, Wis. Stat. § 111.31 et seq.) prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age (40+), national origin, ancestry, disability, arrest record, conviction record (with limits), marital status, sexual orientation, military service, use or nonuse of lawful products off the job, declining to attend employer-sponsored meetings on religious or political matters, and genetic information at all employers (1+ employee). Wisconsin was the first state to protect sexual orientation in employment (1982). Charges are filed with the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division (ERD) within 300 days. WI is at-will with a public-policy exception (Brockmeyer v. Dun & Bradstreet). Non-competes restricted under Wis. Stat. § 103.465 — strict no-blue-pencil rule, must be supported by valuable consideration. Wisconsin minimum wage tracks federal $7.25/hour.

When Do You Need a Employment Attorney in Wisconsin?

Our network includes Wisconsin employment attorneys who handle every kind of case, including:

Types of Employment Cases in Wisconsin

From the moment you connect with a Wisconsin employment attorney, they go to work protecting your claim. The most common case types we handle:

Missing the 300-day ERD filing deadline
Signing a severance release without consulting an attorney
Talking to HR without documenting in writing afterward
Not preserving emails, Slack, and texts before being locked out
Posting about the dispute on social media
Accepting a final paycheck waiver without legal review

Common Wisconsin Employment Mistakes

Even a small misstep can hurt your case. Here’s what to avoid:

How Much Do Wisconsin Employment Attorneys Cost?

33%

Typical starting contingency fee — you pay nothing unless your attorney recovers compensation for you.

Wisconsin employment attorneys work on contingency or hybrid arrangements — typically 33%–40% of recovery. WFEA, Wisconsin Wage Payment Act, and federal employment statutes shift attorney fees to the employer when the worker prevails.

What Can Your Wisconsin Employment Compensation Include?

Back Pay
Lost wages and benefits from termination to judgment under WFEA and federal law. Uncapped.
Front Pay
Future lost earnings when reinstatement isn't feasible.
Compensatory Damages
Federal Title VII / ADA cap $50K–$300K. WFEA traditionally provides limited compensatory damages in administrative proceedings, though 2009 amendments expanded remedies in some cases.
Punitive Damages
Available under Title VII / ADA (subject to federal cap). Wisconsin punitives subject to Wis. Stat. § 895.043 cap.
Liquidated Damages
Wisconsin Wage Payment Act: penalty wages. FLSA: doubles unpaid wages. ADEA: doubles back pay for willful violations.
Attorney Fees and Costs
Prevailing employees recover reasonable attorney fees under WFEA, Wisconsin Wage Payment Act, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, and FMLA.
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DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.