Services for Wisconsinites: Casework - Labor
Cases my office works on relating to labor issues include
unfair labor practices regulated under the Fair Labor Standards
Act, plant closings as a result of foreign competition, federally
prohibited discrimination in hiring or employment, and workers'
compensation for federal employees.
Links
Department of Labor - www.dol.gov
National Labor Relations Board - www.nlrb.gov
Frequently asked
questions
Can Senator Feingold help plant workers apply for additional
federal retraining dollars if job losses are due to foreign
competition?
My office can assist workers once they have applied for
the money. Workers get application information and assistance
through their Job Service office or from staff at the Wisconsin
Department of Workforce Development. I am often able to send
a letter of support for a particular application to the United
States Department of Labor.
What can I do if I have a problem involving a worker's
compensation claim?
If you are not a federal employee, you should contact the
State of Wisconsin, Department of Workforce Development (DWD)
at (608)-266-1340. The DWD is responsible for monitoring,
rulemaking and enforcement functions related to the operation
of Wisconsin's Worker's Compensation system. Provision of
funding for the program, as well as passage of laws governing
its operation, fall under the Wisconsin State Legislature.
Because this is a state program, it does not fall under the
jurisdiction of the U.S. Senate. You may wish to contact your
state legislators for assistance with this program, as the
state is the governing authority. Click here (www.legis.state.wi.us/waml)
for information on how to contact your state legislators.
If you are a federal employee, see the information below.
I am a federal employee. How can I get information on
the federal laws that govern workers' compensation benefits,
such as entitlement to benefits, schedule awards, or appeal
rights?
Workers' compensation benefits for federal employees are
administered through the U.S. Department of Labor, Office
of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). For general information
on regulations under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act,
you should visit the U.S. Department of Labor's website at
www.dol.gov
and click on Questions and Answers about the Federal Employees'
Compensation Act Publication CA-550.
(www.dol.gov/dol/esa/public/regs/compliance/owcp/INDEXofResources.htm)
What can I do if I have a problem with my individual claim,
such as an interruption of my benefits or a denial of a medical
claim?
First, try to leave a message for your claims examiner by
calling the OWCP office in Chicago, IL (312-596-7157). If
the problem persists or you do not receive an answer, contact
my office for assistance.
What can I do if I have a dispute with my employer involving
wages, termination or unfair treatment in the workplace?
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Wage and Hour Division,
enforces the terms of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
FLSA covers payment of minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor
provisions and employer recordkeeping procedures. The Wage
and Hour Division also enforces the provisions of the Family
and Medical Leave Act.
For more information on federal labor laws, you may visit
the DOL website at www.dol.gov.
If you wish to file a complaint, you can contact the regional
DOL office at: US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division,
740 Regent Street, Suite 102, Madison, WI 53715. (608) 264-5221.
Federal law prohibits discriminatory practices in the workplace,
including hiring, disciplinary and firing practices, which
are based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
disability or age. If you believe you have been treated unfairly
because you belong to one of these protected classes, you
may wish to file a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC). You should contact the EEOC
immediately after the situation occurs, as there are deadlines
for filing most discrimination complaints. For general information
on federal laws prohibiting job discrimination and on how
to file a complaint, you may visit the EEOC website at www.eeoc.gov/facts/qanda.html.
To file a complaint, you should contact the regional EEOC
office at: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 310
W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800, Milwaukee, WI 53203-2292.
(414) 297-1111.
How do I apply for a federal job??
USAJOBS offers worldwide job vacancy information, employment
information fact sheets, job applications and forms and has
on-line resume development and electronic transmission capabilities.
The website address is www.usajobs.opm.gov
America's Job Bank is a partnership between the US Department
of Labor and the state operated public Employment Service.
This computerized network links state Employment Service offices
to provide job seekers with a large pool of active job opportunities
and nationwide exposure for their resumes.
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