Wisconsin Set To Empty The Pot Of Money For Discrimination Victims

In the last few years, Wisconsin has become a battleground betweenlabor sympathizers and pro-business Republican politicians. And those on the former side are about to face another loss. Under pressure from business leaders, the State Assembly passed a bill to eliminate compensatory and punitive damages in workplace discrimination claims. Gov. Scott Walker is expected to sign this into law in the next couple of weeks.

When employees in Wisconsin face discrimination at work, they can pursue a claim on the state level through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development or on the federal level through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The former is usually much speedier, and far less daunting. But until 2009, you couldn't get the compensation for mental anguish or punitive damages that's divvied out under federal law.