Industrial Commission of Wisconsin

The Industrial Commission was created by Chapter 485, Laws of Wisconsin, 1911. Prior to 1911 various agencies existed to administer the labor laws, chief among them being the Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics (WIHV95-A529), which had been created in 1883. The Bureau was authorized to collect labor statistics and enforced the factory safety laws, but was inadequately staffed to accomplish its tasks. In 1911, the Workmen's Compensation Law was passed and the Industrial Accident Board established to administer it. In the same session, however, the Industrial Commission was created to take over all the existing and newly-enacted functions relating to labor, including those of the Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics, the State Board of Arbitration, and the Industrial Accident Board. The legislation also substituted a general safe employment statute for the individual factory safety laws that had existed previously and gave the Commission power not only to make investigations but to issue administrative orders in the field of industrial safety.

Following 1911, the tasks assigned the Industrial Commission were expanded to include regulation of hours, wages and employment conditions of women and children as well as industrial safety. Additional duties included the administration of unemployment compensation (Chapter 20, Special Sessions Laws 1931), administration in cooperation with the U.S. Employment Service of the act establishing a national employment system (Chapter 360, Laws 1933) and administration of the fair employment laws (Chapter 490, Laws 1945). Chapter 75, Laws of 1967 (the Reorganization Act), renamed the Industrial Commission the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations (see WIHV85-A482). The Commission ceased in 1996.

The Industrial Commission performed a variety of services for labor and industry. The Commission administered and enforced laws designed to protect the life, safety and welfare of employees. It also administered laws to assure adequate conditions of employment and equal opportunities in employment and housing regardless of race, color, age or sex. In addition, the Commission administered and promoted apprenticeship training to provide a continual source of manpower to the state. The Commission also was charged with administration of the workmen's compensation program, and its statistical division compiled data for use in the review of program guidelines by the Commission.