Hiring Employees in Wisconsin LLC – Wages, Laws, Compliance Guide

Any business structure or corporation stands firm on its foundation laid by the employees. An LLC is no exception to this rule. Hiring employees in your LLC comes with some rules, regulations. Before understanding the rules of hiring employees in Wisconsin LLC, we must understand what an LLC means.

A Limited Liability Company is a business structure that protects the owners from any personal responsibility of the debts or liabilities arising out of the LLC. If an employee action succeeds to liabilities, the owners get the protection against it. LLCs are a combination of the characteristics of a partnership firm & a sole proprietorship.

Hiring Employees in Wisconsin

In order to hire employees in Wisconsin LLC, there are many requirements that a business has to fulfill. One should keep these points in mind while hiring employees in an LLC. These requirements include:

1. Federal & State Employment posters in Wisconsin

The employers in Wisconsin are required to show both Federal & State Employment posters mentioned in Equal Employment Opportunities Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labour Standards Act (FLSA), etc. You should seek professional help to fulfill all the norms or requirements.

2. Federal & State Required Forms

Hiring employees is a lengthier process that involves the filing of different forms & applications. Suppose you wish to hire employees in Wisconsin. In that case, you must ask your employees to submit the Employment Eligibility Form, the Federal Tax withholding form, the W-4 Form, Workers Compensation Claim Form, Disability Self- Identification Form, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Form, etc. These Legal forms are easy and free to download.

3. Requirements of Wisconsin New Hire Reporting program

Employers of Business owners are bound by Wisconsin’s New Hire Reporting Program, under which they have to submit a report consisting:

• Company Name
• Company Address
• Company federal tax ID number
• Employee’s Name
• Employee’s Social Security Number
• Employee’s Address
• First Day of paid Work

In addition to the forms mentioned above, payments, taxes, tax forms, & requirements, there may be some additional compliance for hiring in Wisconsin; you must adhere to those norms as well.

Can an LLC Hire Employees?

An LLC or a Limited Liability Company can be regarded as a corporation, partnership, or sole owner business. The owners of the LLC are often referred to as members. Individuals, Corporations &, in some cases, other LLCs can form an LLC as members.

The members form LLCs because of their limited or no liability provided to the owners or members. In the event of liabilities arising out of an employee’s action, the members of the LLC are not personally liable- the LLC is liable for the actionable claim.

Any LLC (even one with a single owner) can hire unlimited employees on wages or salary. (The single-member owner LLC may have different rules and regulations). In addition to the salaried employees, the LLC can appoint Independent contractors for certain tasks on a contract basis.

Rules to Hire Employees in an LLC in Wisconsin?

Just like any other business corporation, an LLC is also not immune from certain procedures & rules of hiring. An LLC files many documents & pays a number of taxes to various Government Agencies while hiring employees. Some of the essential rules or steps to hire employees in an LLC are:

• Federal Employer Identification Number – Every LLC must obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. EIN helps report taxes & a few other documents to the IRS.
• Employee Eligibility Form – It is mandatory for an LLC owner to check if the employee is eligible for employment in the U.S. An LLC has to ask the employees to submit the I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Form to verify the identity of the employee & to authorize the employment. the I-9 form is a mandatory requirement while hiring an employee.
• Employee’s Social Security Number – The employee has to have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) to work. LLCs have to ask the new employees to submit their SSN before employment. The SSN is helpful in payment & tax purposes.
• Setting up a process for collection & payment of the appropriate taxes – There has to be a due process for the employees’ future collection & payment of taxes. This process needs to be set up by the employer (in this case, the LLC)
• Employee handbook – In the hiring process, one of the crucial elements of hiring paperwork is an Employee Handbook. Although it is not essential in Wisconsin, it is usually needed as one of the legal documents in many other states. An Employee Handbook consists of a complete list of all the basic rules & policies of the company.
• Wisconsin Payroll Taxes – An LLC that is running a business with employees or businesses with employees has to pay many federal taxes & state Taxes. Following the rules on payroll taxes is also an essential requirement. After hiring employees, an LLC is subject to the State Unemployment Compensation Act. Under the said Act, an LLC will have to pay Unemployment tax to the state & to do that; the LLC must register itself with the Wisconsin Workforce Commission. The process involves simple steps & can be completed in 20 minutes.
  Payroll taxes also include Federal Income Tax withholding, an employer can withhold money from the employee’s account for the income tax.
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance An LLC operating in the state of Wisconsis has to carry workers’ compensation insurance & has to display relevant posters.
• New Hire Report or Report of the New Employee – An LLC has to
  • Report about hiring the new employees in the form of “Report of New Employee(s)” to the Wisconsis Workforce Commission within 20 days from the date of hire.
  • Deposit and report federal employment taxes as per the IRS procedures for payroll reporting & payment.

Laws Relating To Wages Of Employees In Wisconsin

The State of Wisconsin follows the federal labor laws to regulate the employer-employee conduct in the State. There are no state-mandated labor rules in Wisconsin. The state adheres to federal standards that protect employees from discrimination and ensures salary pay, overtime wage, and leave of absence to the employees. The Fair Labour Standards Act governs the rules pertaining to employee rights.

• The federally determined minimum wage rate in the United States is $7.25 per hour. The federal minimum wage rate applies to all employers and employees unless they are exempted by special Federal or State law.
• Discrimination and retaliation against employees in a range of protected classifications are illegal in Wisconsin.
• Minimum wage, overtime, and child labor are all regulated in Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin employers must comply with relevant final compensation when an employee’s employment terminates.
• Business LLCs operating their businesses in the State must ensure their legal compliance with the federal legislation as well as any State-mandated labor laws.

Structure Of Wages Of Employees

The State of Wisconsin does not have any particular labor regulations and is guided by federal laws. In the following article, we have mentioned key provisions that structure the employee wages in the State.

Wisconsin Minimum Wage

As per the US Department of Labor, Wisconsin’s minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, equivalent to the federal minimum wage. In Wisconsin, the prevailing wage refers to the minimum pay paid to construction employees on public works projects, who are entitled to a higher rate.

• Tipped Minimum Wage: Employers who recruit tipped employees must pay them at least $2.33 per hour. The amount in tips earned by an employee during a shift, however, must be added to the minimum wage to equal $7.25 per hour. Tipped employees get a minimum of $2.13 per hour as an opportunity employment salary.
• Trainees: Employers can give opportunity employees a subminimum wage of $5.90 under Wisconsin’s minimum wage legislation.
• Student Learners: Employers in Wisconsin are not permitted to pay learners a wage that is less than the state’s legal minimum wage.

Wisconsin Overtime Wage Rate

Unless otherwise excluded, employers must pay employees an overtime rate of 1.5 times their regular wage rate for the total number of hours worked beyond the standard 40 hours limit in any given workweek.

Youth Labor

• Young children up to 14 or 15 years may work a maximum of 8 hours on non-school days and for 3 hours during school sessions.
• Minor under 18 years have no specific time restrictions, except for the fact that they may not work during school hours.

Wisconsin Employee Rights

Federal and state laws protect the employee’s rights during their jobs in Wisconsin. The laws aim to strive for a balance in safeguarding the interest of employers and employees. On similar grounds, the State offers certain rights to the employees in Wisconsin.

Anti-discriminatory Rights

The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA) forbids employers from discriminating against or harassing qualified employees based on race, creed, caste, religion, nationality, disability, sex, and other criteria.

Whistleblower Protection

Any employee in the State of Wisconsin may not be retaliated against for disclosing information about a violation of law or abuse of authority, misconduct, or a threat to public health or safety by their employers.

Paid Time Off and Sick Pay

Employers in the State are not mandated to guarantee sick leave, holiday pay, or any other sort of paid time off to their employees. Employers are required by state legislation to provide workers with a 24-hour rest break once a week. Certain personnel, such as dairy workers, janitors, mill superintendents, emergency responders, and others, are excused from taking this mandated time off.

Certain employees may be eligible to take time off work under the Family and Medical Leave Act to cope with personal medical difficulties, care for an unwell family member, or have or adopt a child. The length of time spent on leave is determined by the cause for the absence.

Occupational Safety

In Wisconsin, the federal legislation, the Occupational Safety and Health Act oversees workplace safety and health standards followed by the businesses. The state’s public sector occupational safety and health regulations are administered and enforced by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).

Final Pay

Employees who resign or are fired must be paid in full by their next normal paycheck, with the exception of commission-based sales agents.

FAQs

How to Hire Employees Fast in Your Wisconsin LLC

To hire employees for your Wisconsin LLC you need to verify if the person is eligible to work in the US and then report him/her as ‘new hires’ to the state.

First and foremost, make sure you have a clear understanding of the roles you need to fill and the qualifications you are looking for in potential candidates. By clearly defining the job responsibilities and desired skills and experience upfront, you can narrow down your search and attract candidates who are the best fit for the position. This will not only save you time in the long run but also increase the chances of hiring someone who will excel in their new role.

Utilizing online job boards and social media platforms can also be highly effective in reaching a large number of potential candidates in a short amount of time. Posting your job listings on popular sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, or even local job boards in Wisconsin can help you cast a wider net and attract a diverse pool of applicants. Additionally, using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote your job openings can help you reach passive candidates who may not be actively searching for a new job but are open to new opportunities.

Consider working with a staffing agency or recruitment firm to help you find qualified candidates quickly. These professionals have the expertise and resources to connect you with potential hires who meet your specific requirements. They can also help you conduct interviews, screen candidates, and streamline the overall hiring process, saving you time and effort in the long run.

Networking is also a powerful tool when it comes to hiring employees fast. Reach out to your professional contacts, industry peers, and even current employees for referrals and recommendations. By tapping into your existing network, you can not only find candidates who are well-qualified but also more likely to be a good cultural fit for your company.

Finally, make sure to streamline your recruitment process to make it as efficient as possible. This includes clearly communicating your expectations to candidates, scheduling interviews promptly, and making timely decisions on hiring. Keeping the lines of communication open with candidates throughout the process can help you build goodwill and retain top talent.

In conclusion, hiring employees fast in your Wisconsin LLC is possible with the right strategies and mindset. By clearly defining job roles, utilizing online job boards and social media, working with staffing agencies, networking, and streamlining your recruitment process, you can attract qualified candidates and build a strong team to support your business growth.

In Conclusion

All the LLCs with employees are bound by many rules and regulations with reference to wages. It is always advisable to register a registered agent service to understand the laws better. Feel free to share your feedback with us in the comment section below.