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  2. News Room
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Tony Evers, Governor
Caleb Frostman, Secretary

Department of Workforce Development
Secretary's Office
201 E. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707-7946
Telephone: (608) 266-3131
Fax: (608) 266-1784
Email: sec@dwd.wisconsin.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 26, 2019
CONTACT: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722
On the Web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/news/
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WIWorkforce
On Twitter: @WIWorkforce

Joint Enforcement Taskforce on Payroll Fraud and Worker Misclassifications Holds 2nd Meeting in Wisconsin Rapids

MADISON – Governor Tony Evers' Joint Enforcement Taskforce on Payroll Fraud and Worker Misclassification today held their second meeting to discuss the tests and standards used to determine if a worker is an independent contractor or an employee. The meeting was the second of several scheduled to be held prior to the first report being due to Governor Evers in March 2020.

"In order to make informed recommendations, the task force must be aware of the previous work to combat the issues of payroll fraud and worker misclassification, while also understanding the different tests used to make a determination," DWD Secretary-designee Caleb Frostman said. "Our first two meetings have set the appropriate tone and trajectory to arrive at actionable solutions to this growing Wisconsin and national issue."

The Joint Enforcement Taskforce on Payroll Fraud and Worker Misclassification was created by Governor Evers through Executive Order #20 earlier this year. Misclassification denies vulnerable workers legal protections and benefits. Misclassification results in millions of dollars of losses to state government and taxpayers due to underpayment of wages, unemployment insurance contributions, worker's compensation insurance, and payroll taxes. The task force will coordinate worker misclassification matters handled by the Departments of Revenue, Workforce Development, and Justice, as well as the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and other agencies.