| Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development News Release | |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, June 1, 2004 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 |
MADISON -- Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman today announced a new online survey tool for construction and trucking employers to use to help determine future prevailing wage rates in Wisconsin. Developed at the request of employers, the electronic survey will enable the department to more easily and accurately collect data on the employer’s county of location, trade or classification of employees, project type, hourly basic rate of pay, hourly fringe benefit rate, and total hours worked per employee.
"With this web-based tool, the department hopes to increase the number of employers participating in the survey who previously did not have the time to complete the paper survey in the past," said DWD Secretary Gassman. "The department will then interface this electronic data into the existing prevailing wage program which will reduce staff time in keying individual employer data into the program, thus saving taxpayer dollars."
The data establishes prevailing hourly wages and prevailing hourly fringe benefits (which will become effective January 1, 2005) for trades commonly employed on five different and distinct types of public work projects. The online survey method allows employers to make electronic data entries much quicker and easier through the use of drop down boxes, which ultimately assists in reducing chances of inaccurate data submissions. Data is then submitted electronically (via floppy disk) to the department for compilation. The department anticipates this method will also enable employers to add data to the annual survey throughout the 12-month base period and avoid the "rush" to complete the survey during the active construction season.
The last week in May employers were mailed the annual prevailing wage survey booklet and information to use the new online survey tool at the Equal Rights web page at http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/er/prevailing_wage_rate/pw_online_2.htm. For more information about prevailing wage rates, contact the DWD Equal Rights Division at (608) 267-9331.
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Content Contact: Rose Lynch