Worker's Compensation Adjudication Updates

Under 2025 Wisconsin Act 33, the Office of Worker's Compensation Hearings (OWCH) under the Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA) at the Department of Administration (DOA), will transfer worker's compensation adjudicatory functions and staff to the Worker's Compensation Division (WCD) at the Department of Workforce Development (DWD).

Act 33 reverts changes made by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, which transferred statutory authority for worker's compensation adjudicatory functions and related rulemaking authority from DWD to the DHA, and reunifies all WC staff under the administration of DWD.

Worker's compensation adjudication was located within DWD until 2015. In January 2016, adjudicatory functions were moved to the Division of Hearings and Appeals at the state Department of Administration as part of a broader state government reorganization. In August 2025, Gov. Evers signed 2025 Wisconsin Act 33, returning the process to the agency with decades of experience in worker's compensation policy, claims, and compliance. DWD anticipates the reunification will:

• Streamline WCD processes;
• Improve coordination between hearings and claim administration; and
• Support operational efficiency and customer service.

Yes. The WCD will continue to provide adjudicatory law judges (ALJs) to conduct mediations to resolve litigated cases.

Attorneys may submit documents in litigated cases to the Litigated Mail Portal, litigated mail fax (608) 260-3053, or by the U.S. Postal Service. The mailing address for the Worker's Compensation Division is P. O. Box. 7901, Madison, WI 53707-7901.

While there will not be pre-hearing conferences for most cases, pre-hearing conferences will be held in cases where injured employees are not represented by attorneys or upon request by the parties.

Worker's compensation hearings will be held at the State Office Building, GEF-1, 201 East Washington Ave., Room H-103.

There is accessible parking near GEF 1. The GEF 1 parking garage is not open to the public and does not offer visitor parking, including for hearings. However, several nearby public parking options include accessible stalls. There is also metered street parking surrounding GEF 1 that includes marked ADA-accessible stalls.

Visit GEF-1 Public Parking and Building Access or the City of Madison Garages and Lots for more information.

Worker's compensation hearings will be held at the Milwaukee Office State Office Building: 819 N Sixth St, Rm 310, 370, 712. Milwaukee, WI 53203. The phone number is (414) 227-4381, and the fax number is (414) 227-4012

Yes. The WCD will continue to conduct hearings at the traditional locations throughout the state.

• Appleton Office: 54 Park Place, Ste 900 Appleton, WI 54914
• Eau Claire Hearing Office: 221 W. Madison St. Eau Claire, WI 54703
• Green Bay Hearing Office: 6th floor Room 622 200 N. Jefferson St. Green Bay, WI 54301
• La Crosse Hearing Office: 3550 Mormon Coulee Rd La Crosse, WI 54601
• Wausau Hearing Office: 2100 Stewart Ave Ste 160 Wausau, WI 54403

Hearings will continue to follow the same statutory process, timelines, and legal requirements. DWD currently has no rules related to worker's compensation adjudication in effect; therefore, new administrative rules will be promulgated in ch. DWD 80 related to those functions.

ALJ assignments, hearing numbers, and case timelines will not change as a result of the reunification.

Yes. All WC ALJs and staff will use @dwd.wisconsin.gov email addresses. Phone numbers for Madison and Milwaukee offices will remain the same. Updated contact information will be made available by January 1, 2026.

Documents previously filed with OWCH will be considered filed with WC and will not be affected by the reunification. Parties will not need to re-submit documents.

DWD anticipates a smooth transition without interruptions or delays caused by the reunification. Staff relocations are scheduled to occur the week of December 15. Hearings are expected to continue as scheduled.

The reunited WC team will take over the scheduling process after January 1, 2026, once staff and functions are transferred to DWD, per Wisconsin Act 33.

For questions related to the reunification project, please contact the Project Manager, Megan Martin, at meganm.martin@dwd.wisconsin.gov.

For questions related to WC hearings and legal services, please contact WC's Bureau of Legal Service Director, Jim O'Malley, at jim.omalley@dwd.wisconsin.gov.

To view and apply for current openings:

1. Visit wisc.jobs
2. Search by agency (Department of Workforce Development) and/or by keyword ("Workers Compensation")
3. Follow the application instructions listed in each posting

Please note that recruitment timelines vary by position and openings are not always available. If you are interested in future opportunities, check the site regularly or sign up for job alerts.