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Chapter 103.85 Wisconsin Statutesprovides that: Employers operating factories or mercantile establishments (enterprises engaged in retail trade) in the State of Wisconsin must provide employees with at least one period consisting of 24 consecutive hours of rest in each calendar week.
This section does not apply to janitors; watchmen; persons employed in the manufacture of butter, cheese or other dairy products or in the distribution of milk or cream; or in canneries and freezers; persons employed in bakeries, flour and feed mills, hotels, and restaurants; employees whose duties include no work on Sunday other than caring for live animals or maintaining fires, and any labor called for by emergency that could not reasonably have been anticipated.
Effective July 14, 2015: This section does not apply to an employee who states in writing that he or she voluntarily chooses to work without at least 24 consecutive hours of rest in 7 consecutive days.
Waivers
Upon joint request of labor and management, modifications or waivers of this requirement may be granted. To request a waiver, address a written request to:
Labor Standards Coordinator
Equal Rights Division
PO Box 8928
Madison, WI 53708
 If there is a union representing employees subject to the requested waiver, employers may submit a joint request signed by labor and management. The letter should:
oExplain the necessity for the waiver and should explain the agreement between the parties as to the scope of the waiver (who is covered, when they can be asked to work overtime) and length of the waiver (no longer than the term of the current collective bargaining agreement).
oExplain any agreement between the parties as to the voluntary nature of work on the seventh day.
If the employees are not represented by a union, employers may request a waiver jointly with one member of the workforce. The letter should:
oExplain the necessity for the waiver and should provide the requested length of the waiver (no longer than 6 months).
oExplain that the employer understands that work on the seventh day must be voluntary on the part of each employee.
Note:The law does not provide that the rest must be given every 7 days. For example, an employer may legally schedule work for 12 consecutive days within a 2 week period if the days of rest fall on the first and last days of the 2 week period.
ADP is committed to helping you meet your compliance challenges.For additional information about this or any other Human Resources compliance issue, please contact your HR Business Partner.
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