In a recent development for public-sector workers, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled in favor of granting class action status to thousands of current and former corrections officers in a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC).
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2020, alleges that the DOC failed to compensate officers for essential pre- and post-shift duties, including security screenings, equipment procedures, and shift turnover briefings—tasks the officers argue are integral to their jobs and required by department policy.
“Corrections officers are the largest officer force in the State of Wisconsin and do a vital and incredibly difficult job,” according to a joint statement issued by the law firms DiCello Levitt, Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, and Burger Law. “It is simply unfair that, for years, Wisconsin has forced them to do unpaid work before and after their shifts.”
This decision paves the way for plaintiffs—estimated to number around 5,000 officers and sergeants—to proceed collectively as they seek unpaid wages and overtime.
The Wisconsin DOC has stated it is reviewing the decision, and the case will return to the lower courts for further proceedings on the merits.
For more about DiCello Levitt’s efforts on behalf of Wisconsin corrections officers, read the full coverage here.
