MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) – Wisconsin is hoping a new law will help keep youth workers safe as school lets out, and consumers safe from possible scams.
Called Malinda's Law, it's designed to help keep workers and consumers safe when dealing with traveling work crews. Department of Workforce Development administrator Jennifer Ortiz says that will work two ways. First, it will ensure that all employers are licensed and insured, an that they aren't trying to maltreat their workers during the course of business. Second, will will help consumers spot work crews that aren't legitimate.
All employees in sales crews will now be required to carry state bonded ID on them at all times, listing their name and home address, the name and address of the business they're working for, and a seal from DWD. If a person selling something at your door can't produce these, Ortiz says you can call your local authorities, and inform them that someone might be running a scam in your neighborhood. You might not only be stopping scammers, but helping keep young adults safe from dangerous work environments.
Ortiz recommends that parents of students interested in an over the road travel sales job get information first, before their student leaves. A sales crew in Wisconsin will be required to carry their work permit, as well as register with the state to prevent them from leaving behind workers out of state for poor sales, leaving them unsupervised, or dropping them off without warning many thousand miles from home.
More info on the web at: http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/er/labor_standards_bureau/traveling_sales_crew.htm
