Wisconsin Payroll Rules

Frequency of Payments

You must pay your employees at least monthly. You must pay them within 31 days of the end of the pay period.

If you’re engaged in the logging or farming industry, you may pay your employees quarterly.

Manner of Payments

You may pay your employees by cash, check, or direct deposit.

Payment Upon Separation

If an employee leaves your company for any reason, you must pay them by the next regular payday.

If an employee leaves your company because you’re liquidating, merging, or disposing the business or are moving the business out of state, you must pay the employee within 24 hours of the separation.

Deductions

You can only make a deduction from an employee’s paycheck for defective or faulty workmanship, lost or stolen property, or damage to property if

• the employee gives their written consent to the deduction;
• the employer and a representative of the employee (like a union) determine the defective or faulty workmanship, lost or stolen property, or damage to property was due to the employee’s negligence, carelessness, or willful and intentional conduct; or
• the employee is found guilty or held liable in a court of competent jurisdiction because of negligence, carelessness, or willful and intentional conduct.

Uniforms & Other Required Equipment or Tools

Wisconsin does not have any laws about whether you can require an employee to purchase a uniform or equipment necessary for them to do their job.

Pre-Hire Medical, Physical, & Drug Tests

You cannot require an employee to pay for the cost of any pre-hire exams.

Notice of Wage Reduction

There are no laws dictating whether you have to notify an employee about the wage reduction.

Paystubs

Each paycheck, you must provide each employee with a paystub printed on the paycheck, included in the pay envelope, or on paper accompanying the wage payment. The paystub must include:

• number of hours worked,
• rate of pay, and
• amount of and reason for each deduction.

Recordkeeping

For each employee, you must keep the following records for at least three (3) years:

• name and address,
• birthdate,
• date of entering and leaving employment,
• when employee’s meal periods are required or when they will be deducted from work time,
• total hours worked each day and workweek,
• rate of pay and wages paid each pay period,
• amount of and reason for each deduction, and
• output of employee, if they’re paid on a non-time basis.

Notices

When you hire an employee, you must notify them of any hairstyle, facial hair, or clothing requirement.