Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Workforce Development
DWD 218-226 - Civil Rights
Chapter DWD 218 - Fair employment
Section DWD 218.03 - Complaints

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง DWD 218.03

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) WHO MAY FILE COMPLAINTS. A complaint may be filed by any person or by the person's duly authorized representative. A complaint filed by a representative shall state that the representative is authorized to file the complaint.

(2) WHERE TO FILE COMPLAINTS.

(a) A complaint may be filed in person with any division office, or it may be mailed or sent by facsimile transmission to one of the following division offices:
1. Equal Rights Division, 201 East Washington Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53702. Facsimile number: 608-267-4592.

2. Equal Rights Division, 819 North Sixth Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203. Facsimile number: 414-227-4084.

(b) A complaint filed by facsimile transmission shall conform with the requirements of s. DWD 218.25(1).

(3) FORM AND CONTENT OF COMPLAINT. A complaint shall be written on a form which is available at any division office or on any form acceptable to the department. Each complaint shall be signed by the person filing the complaint or by the person's duly authorized representative. The signature constitutes an acknowledgment that the party or the representative has read the complaint; that to the best of that person's knowledge, information and belief the complaint is true and correct; and that the complaint is not being used for any improper purpose, such as to harass the party against whom the complaint is filed. Each complaint shall contain all of the following information:

(a) The name and address of the complainant.

(b) The name and address of the respondent.

(c) A concise statement of the facts, including pertinent dates, constituting the alleged act of employment discrimination, unfair honesty testing or unfair genetic testing.

(4) ASSISTANCE BY THE DEPARTMENT. The department shall, upon request, provide appropriate assistance in completing and filing complaints.

(5) DATE OF FILING OF COMPLAINT DEFERRED BY ANOTHER AGENCY. A complaint which is deferred to the department by a federal or local employment opportunity agency with which the department has a worksharing agreement complies with the requirements of sub. (3) and is considered filed when received by the federal or local agency.

(6) AMENDMENT OF COMPLAINT. A complaint may be amended, subject to the approval of the department, except that a complaint may not be amended less than 45 days before hearing unless good cause is shown for the failure to amend the complaint prior to that time. If the complaint is amended prior to the issuance of an initial determination, the department shall investigate the allegations of the amended complaint. If the complaint is amended after the case has been certified to hearing, the chief of the hearing section or the administrative law judge may remand the complaint to the investigation section to conduct an investigation and issue an initial determination as to whether probable cause exists to believe that the respondent has violated the act as alleged in the amended complaint. An amended complaint shall be dismissed if it does not meet the requirements of s. DWD 218.05(1).

(7) WITHDRAWAL OF COMPLAINT. A complaint may be withdrawn at any time. A request for withdrawal shall be in writing and shall be signed by the complainant or by the complainant's duly authorized representative. Upon the filing of a request for withdrawal, the department shall dismiss the complaint by written order. Such dismissal shall be with prejudice unless otherwise expressly stated in the order.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.