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DID YOU KNOW? Wisconsin Labor Standards provides employees the right to inspect, review and request copies of their personnel records (up to 2x's per year)! Past employees are also covered under this law (2 years past leaving the company) But Don't take our word for it!! Near the bottom of this page is a link to the Wisconsin's Dept. of Workforce and Development, Labor Standards Division! Learn more there! |
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 | WI DWD LABOR AND STANDARDS |
| WI LABOR & INDUSTRY REVIEW C |
| CAUSE YOU CAN - LABOR RIGHTS |
| WI UNEMPLOYMENT |
A Must Read! Basic's of Advocating for Your Rights
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You work for a tyrant whose violating your labor rights. Maybe he has a type A personalty - or Napeleon Syndrome (You know the type... King of the Hill) or perhaps he/she has the intelligence of a gnat but doesn't realize it. Or maybe you work for a dou - a pair of kissing cousins who believe they are above the law.
Whatever your situation is... don't let their thumb on your head oppress you and keep you in fear of standing up for yourself. Also don't fear their attorneys...they're just people too and they are not always right. You can also make complaints against unethical attorneys!! Don't be bullied!
Let them be reactive while you remain proactive. Protect yourself and always remain calm in the process. Whenever you assert your rights, no matter the situation, whether it's labor rights, civil rights, education rights..etc...there are basics to advocating for yourself.
Whenever you advocate for your rights, you are also preparing for future litigation, investigations, complaints, due process..etc. ALWAYS KEEP THIS IN MIND!
1) Keep a paper trail!! Document, document, document!!
Also, remember that verbal conversations are just that, verbal. Unless you have a quite a few witnesses willing to provide statements on what was said, you will need to keep a log of these conversations. You may also want to confirm in writing to the company, what they told. Try to stay away from verbal conversations about pending complaints...remember that most likely the witnesses are also working under that fear factor and have families to support! Even people you thought were friends may feel forced to subcumb to the fear factor.
2) Learn your rights. Do your own research. Know the steps to follow. Don't be afraid to call around for legal advice.
3)Don't take advice from their attorney!!! Don't take their attorney's word for it!! He is not out for your best interest..you are not paying his fee, they are!
4) Know who you are up against. Research them and their attorney on the internet. If you've complained and their attorney is involved you can be almost guaranteed they have do their own background on you! It's AMAZING what you can find out!! There are some GREAT research tools in the internet, and you do not have to be a pro to use them. For instance..
You can start here in your research...
Search Engine (use keywords like their name, or company name)
Do they have a Wisconsin Criminal Record - or have they been sued by others. Check them out on
Wisconsin's Circuit Court Access
Do they contribute to political campaigns, does the law firm they use do this...(this info can be useful when contacting politicians about labor causes) check this out at.
These are just some suggestions to get you going, please remember none of this is legal advice. To find out if your situation warrants it, please seek out an attorney!
MORE LINKS AND ADVOCACY RESEARCH TOOLS CAN BE FOUND AT THIS PAGE ON OUR SITE: COOL LINKS AND RESEARCH TOOLS!
Make all compliants in writing - keep emotions out of it. You may think they are a jerk, but just keep that to yourself, rather put in writing the reason they are a jerk - keep it to the facts. If you do make a complaint, document that they have recieved it....fax it, back it up with an email and then mail it by certified letter. Or just certify mail it.
The above link will take you to a page where you have to agree to their terms of use, once you do that you then can search by their name and see what cases they have be involved with.
Open Secrets
