Grievance process for demotion, suspension, discharge, layoff, or reduction in base pay
Wis. Stat. § 230.445
in effect(1) In this section:
(a) “Adverse employment decision” means a decision to demote, layoff, suspend without pay, discharge, or reduce the base pay of an employee.
(b) “Employee” means an employee who has obtained permanent status in class or an employee who has served with the state as an assistant district attorney or an assistant state public defender for a continuous period of 12 months or more.
(2) An employee may file a complaint under this section concerning the application of a law, rule, or policy to an adverse employment decision against the employee. If an employee does not file a complaint or an appeal by an applicable deadline under sub. (3), the employee waives his or her right to appeal the adverse employment decision under this subchapter.
(3)
(a)
1. To commence the grievance process for an adverse employment action, an employee shall file a complaint with the employee’s appointing authority challenging the adverse employment decision against the employee no later than 14 days after the employee becomes aware of, or should have become aware of, the decision that is the subject of the complaint.
2. An appointing authority, or his or her designee, who receives a timely complaint under subd. 1. shall conduct any investigation he or she considers necessary, meet with the employee in person, and issue a decision, in writing, not later than 14 days after the date of which the appointing authority, or his or her designee, received the employee’s complaint. If the appointing authority does not issue a written decision within 15 days after receiving the employee’s complaint, the employee may appeal to the administrator under par. (b).
(b)
1. If an appointing authority does not find in favor of the employee under par. (a), the employee may appeal the appointing authority’s decision by filing a complaint with the administrator. The employee may not file a complaint under this subdivision later than 14 days after the date of the appointing authority’s decision.
2. If the administrator receives a timely complaint under subd. 1., the administrator shall review the complaint and the appointing authority’s written decision, and shall issue a decision, in writing, no later than 30 days after the date the employee filed a complaint with the administrator. If the administrator does not issue a written decision within 31 days after receiving the employee’s complaint, the employee may appeal to the commission under par. (c).
(c)
1. An employee or an appointing authority may appeal a decision issued by the administrator under par. (b) by filing an appeal with the commission. The employee or appointing authority may not file an appeal with the commission under this paragraph later than 14 days after receiving the administrator’s decision. Within 10 days of receiving an appeal, the commission shall determine whether all procedural requirements were completed properly and in a timely manner. If a procedural requirement was not met by the employee or if the appointing authority’s appeal under this paragraph was not made in a timely manner, the commission shall dismiss the appeal. If all of the procedural requirements were met, the commission shall hear the appeal under s. 230.44 (4), except that the commission shall issue a decision on the appeal no later than 120 days after the date the appeal is filed with the commission.
2. To ensure that the commission issues its decision no later than 120 days after an appeal is filed under this paragraph, all of the following apply to a hearing before the commission for an appeal under this paragraph:
a. The parties shall participate in a pre-hearing conference no later than 20 days after the filing of the appeal. The commission shall set the date of the hearing at the pre-hearing conference.
b. Discovery shall be completed no later than 60 days after the appeal is filed.
c. The commission shall rule on all motions no later than 30 days before the date of the hearing.
d. The commission may only grant an extension to a deadline provided in this subdivision for extraordinary circumstances. The commission may not grant an extension beyond the 120-day limit for issuing its decision.
e. Continuances of the hearing may be granted only in extraordinary circumstances, as determined by the commission.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/230.445Fetched: 10/7/2026