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We've got NEWS Friday, November 14, 2003 Governor Jim Doyle Secretary Roberta Gassman News Media Contact Rose Lynch 608/266-6753 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Agency Receives Federal Funds Based on Performance

Funds used to process additional Equal Rights complaints in the state

MADISON - Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today that the Division of Equal Rights will receive an additional $106,500 in funding from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for successfully completing additional discrimination cases in the third quarter of 2003.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission contracts with the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division for the processing of discrimination cases in Wisconsin. This contract avoids duplication of effort and provides an additional $500 federal dollars per case to the Equal Rights Division for processing.

For the past three years, Equal Rights staff have steadily increased their performance in order to receive additional federal funds, with this year being an exemplary year for increased performance. The Division has settled more cases than ever before, which means increased federal monies and less reliance on state tax dollars. Without compromising quality, and with no increase in personnel, division staff successfully completed 213 cases in less than 3 months over and above their original goal of 170 cases per month.

Secretary Gassman congratulated the division staff on their performance. "The Equal Rights staff made a tremendous effort to assist in alleviating some of the budget problems faced by their division," Secretary Gassman said. "During these difficult economic times, I’m heartened by the hard work and determination of the staff to provide additional services to the citizens of Wisconsin, while continuing to preserve the employment laws that guide this state."

The department’s Equal Rights Division handles discrimination and civil rights cases, family and medical leave issues, wage and hour labor standards, child labor and prevailing wage laws and work permits. Equal Rights serves over 20,000 people in Wisconsin each year by impartially investigating and hearing discrimination and wage complaints.

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Content Contact: Rose Lynch

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