Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Secretary Amy Pechacek was honored to join Governor Evers, labor leaders, and community members yesterday for the signing of 2025 Wisconsin Act 145. This bipartisan legislation strengthens and improves existing worker’s compensation benefits for workers who are injured on the job. Key provisions include: ✅ Extending PTSD coverage provided to law enforcement officers and full-time firefighters to all emergency medical service practitioners and all firefighters  ✅Increasing the maximum weekly benefit rate for workers who suffer a permanent disability on the job  ✅Expanding the list of health care professionals who can provide opinions on the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, as well as the extent and cause of the injury to make it easier for injured workers to get a medical opinion  ✅Increasing the penalties for employers who repeatedly violate Wisconsin’s worker’s compensation insurance requirements Thank you especially to the members of the Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council for your work on this legislation to support injured Wisconsin #workers. 

DWD celebrates Ada Deer (1935-2023), scholar, public servant, and tribal rights champion this #WomensHistoryMonth. 💜 An active member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Deer was born in Keshena. After earning her undergraduate degree from UW-Madison—the first Menominee to do so—she went on to receive a Master of Social Work from Columbia University, continuing to break new ground as the first Native American to achieve this feat. Inspired by her mother’s advocacy for Native American rights, Deer helped to restore federal recognition for the Menominee Nation and end the Termination Era, and she went on to become the first woman to chair the Menominee Tribe. In 1993 Deer was appointed assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior, as head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs—the first Native American woman to serve in that position. While in office, she led federal policy efforts for over 500 federally recognized tribes and approved the recognition of several Alaskan Native Tribes. While director of the American Indian Studies Program at UW-Madison, she co-founded Milwaukee’s Indian Community School, and created the first UW-Madison program to provide social work training on Native American reservations. We celebrate her many accomplishments, her leadership in politics and activism, and the path she laid for the future generations of women leaders. Thank you, Ada Deer! 👏

Women like Sharieka Thomas are making #Wisconsin history. 💜👩🏾🔧 As the only female mechanic at the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) working in a historically male-dominated field, Sharieka has become a leader, and her story is an example of what can happen when the right supports are in place that allow women to participate fully in the workforce. Thomas is the first and currently only woman participating in an 18-month “earn while you learn” Registered Apprenticeship program for mechanics. Consisting of hands-on learning and mentorship, Wisconsin’s “Coach/Bus Mechanic Apprenticeship” program is helping to recruit more skilled workers to join the in-demand auto mechanics career field. This #WomensHistoryMonth, DWD is proud to recognize Sharieka for stepping out of her comfort zone and going after a rewarding career that allows her to take care of herself, her family, and contribute to her community. Thank you to MCTS and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 for your partnership—together we’re fostering opportunities that provide family-sustaining wages and strong career pathways for workers throughout Wisconsin. 🤜🤛 Check out her inspiring story below: https://lnkd.in/eXr-CwMN

ICYMI: DWD’s David Polk joined the Lippincott® Spark: Illuminating Nursing Education podcast to share how nursing apprenticeships help build a stronger health care workforce. David breaks down Wisconsin’s game-changing “earn while you learn” model, how apprenticeships expand access and help to remove financial barriers, how educators and employers can build a successful apprenticeship program, and so much more. 🩺 📚 Listen here: https://shorturl.at/ouC6T

⚡ First impressions are often lasting ones, and for Sean Witzling this is certainly true. As an Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax Auditor, part of Sean’s role includes educating and regulating employers who pay unemployment insurance tax. For many small employers, he is the first state employee they interact with and making that good first impression is important for Sean, and something that he enjoys doing. Building those trusted relationships have paid off for Sean, who says that years after auditing employers, he still gets calls asking him to help explain some aspect of the UI program. Thanks for all that you do to support Wisconsin’s employers, Sean! #poweredbypeople

Today, Secretary Amy Pechacek spent time in Milwaukee for the final #WomensHistoryMonth panel at Concordia 27, a vibrant, mixed-used building on the city’s Near West Side. Joining other members of Governor Tony Evers' historic, woman-led cabinet, Secretary Pechacek discussed the many ways women contribute to Wisconsin’s thriving communities, and the many opportunities we have to continue strengthening women’s participation in the workforce. Secretary Pechacek shared the importance of innovative programs like Gov. Evers' historic $168 million investment in communities across the state through the Workforce Solutions Initiative that has provided support for child care transportation, caregiving, and flexible schedules—all core issues when it comes to uplifting women in workplace.  Wisconsin’s #workforcewins don’t happen without these kinds of conversations followed up by actions that help our families and communities thrive. Today’s event is a prime example of the progress made when we come together through various sectors, including workforce development, health care, environmental, and housing to help strengthen our state. That’s the kind of collaboration the #YearoftheNeighbor is all about. Thank you to Concordia 27 - Near West Side Partners (NWSP), a beautiful community hub helping to boost the neighborhood’s economic well-being, for hosting.  🎥 For more photos and to see remarks from Secretary Pechacek, check out our Stories on Facebook and Instagram. 

Happy National Agriculture Day, Wisconsin! This #AgDay2026, DWD is proud to share that through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), we’ve helped 17 individuals with disabilities find and keep farming jobs—earning an average of $27/hour. This is a powerful testament to inclusive employment, and a reminder that creating meaningful and sustaining career pathways foster independence and skills development that not only benefit communities, but our economy too. #NationalAgDay #AgDay26

Secretary Amy Pechacek looks forward to joining tomorrow’s #WomensHistoryMonth panel discussion on the important role of Wisconsin women in building strong and resilient communities. In the #YearoftheNeighorbor, we recognize women across our state who’ve joined together to help make Wisconsin a place where families and communities can thrive.  Click the link in the comments to learn more. 

DWD celebrates Ardie Clark Halyard (1896-1989), civil rights activist, businesswoman, and educator, this #WomensHistoryMonth. 💜 Born in Covington, Georgia to a family of sharecroppers, Halyard graduated from Atlanta University before settling in Milwaukee in 1923 where she and her husband opened Columbia Savings and Loan, the first and only Black-owned bank in Wisconsin—with just a ten-dollar bill. Columbia Savings and Loan helped many African Americans, who had previously faced racial discrimination when attempting to secure loans, successfully apply for and secure home loans, affording them the same home ownership opportunities as white people. Halyard was also known for her fierce political activism as a founder of Beloit’s NAACP branch, and she was first woman president of the Milwaukee chapter. She also helped launch other chapters around the state including in Kenosha and Racine. She served on the Wisconsin State Board of Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education for more than eight years, and was also a member of the Wisconsin Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women. Halyard’s life and legacy embody DWD’s mission to deliver inclusive services that meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs and advocate for the economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers. This Women’s History Month, DWD salutes Ardie Clark Halyard! 👏