Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Friday, August 31, 2001 Governor Scott McCallum Secretary Jennifer Reinert

News Media Contact Christopher Marschman 608/261-6705 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

• Wisconsin was the first state to create a Worker’s Compensation Program (1911)
    
• Wisconsin was the first state to create a regulated apprenticeship law, which still exists today (1911)
    
• Wisconsin created the nation’s first unemployment insurance law, three years ahead of a federal law being passed (1932)
    
• Wisconsin issued the nation’s first unemployment check (1936)
    
• Wisconsin becomes one of the first three states in the nation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin or ancestry in employment (1945)
    
• Wisconsin was the first state to outlaw job discrimination on the basis of a disability (1965)
    
• Wisconsin was the first state to create an Office of Refugee Services to coordinate state services for refugees (1975)
    
• Wisconsin was the first state to outlaw job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation (1982)
    
• Wisconsin was the first state to appoint a Glass Ceiling Commission, aimed at elevating women and minorities into management and board room positions (1994)
    
• Wisconsin was the first state to use an Interactive Voice Response System to capture a full unemployment insurance initial claim (1998)

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