1905

First State Civil Service Law enacted; creates a three- member Civil Service Commission.  Wisconsin becomes third state to establish a civil service system.

1906

Approximate number of employees - under 2,000

1908

Approximate number of state employees - 3435 total, of which 1787 were covered by civil service.

1917

2,552 applicants took civil service exams with 1,545 passing. A 61% pass rate.

The “Rule of Three” was in effect, meaning that only the top three scorers from the examination were referred for interviews. One of those three had to be hired.

1918

Approximate number of state employees - 4101 total, of which 2509 were covered by civil service.  Those not covered included positions like Professional Engineers, Teachers and Librarians, state officials and commissioners.

Stenographers Demonstrate Their Ability A Civil Service Competitive Examination

3,025 applicants took civil service exams with only 1,231 passing. A 46% pass rate.

1921

Approximate number of employees - 5,000

1925

The Civil Service Commission was authorized to develop a statewide classification and compensation plan for classified state employees.

1926

Approximate number of employees - 6,760

1929

Governor Walter Kohler Sr. consolidates all civil service into the Bureau of Personnel under the direction of a 3-member personnel board.  All employees except department heads became classified.

1935

Employees granted the right to appeal discharges to the Personnel Board.

Approximate number of employees - 10,515

1936

October 16 - The American Federation of Labor chartered a new international union to represent and organize state and local government workers named the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL (aka AFSCME).  There was concern at the time that the various state and local government employers would scrap civil service so they could offer jobs to "depression-poor party faithful" after a change in administration.  Wisconsin state personnel director Colonel A. E. Garey feared that the new administration might bring efforts to weaken Wisconsin’s civil service system, the third oldest in the nation.  The Wisconsin union organized, lobbied, and scrapped.  And it won, convincing the new administration that state civil service should continue.

1939

Legislature authorized Bureau of Personnel to assist counties, cities and villages that have civil service systems.  Continues today as Wisconsin  Personnel Partners.

1941

State law changed to require job classes be based on similarity of job requirements.

1944

Approximate number of employees - 13,400

1954

Employee Suggestion Program created as the Merit Award Board.  A similar program continues today.

1956

Approximate number of employees - 20,700

1959

Bureau of Personnel moved from status as an independent agency to a bureau within the newly created Department of Administration (DOA).

1967

First state collective bargaining law is passed to permit bargaining by agency on non-wage items (i.e. working conditions).

1969

Approximate number of employees - 39,800

1971

JCOER (Joint Committee on Employment Relations) created to act on all matters relating to classified employees pay – both under contract and those not under contract.

The Career Executive Program was authorized.

Bargaining authorized on issues of compensation and benefits.

Law enacted to allow collective bargaining by state employees on wages, hours and working conditions.  Other major civil service changes enacted.

Exceptional kinds of employment for disadvantaged and handicapped individuals were authorized.

1972

Full scale affirmative action program implemented for employment of women and minorities.

1974

Employee Assistance Program began.

1977

First illegal job action ("strike") by WSEU occurred against the state.

1978

The Department of Employment Relations was created as a cabinet level department and replaces the Bureau of Personnel.

1979-1981

Division of Personnel implements expanded certification to further state's efforts to achieve a balanced workforce.

1981

Approximate number of employees - 52,500

1984

Comparable worth task force created by the Governor, which committed the state to the concept of gender pay equity.

1985

U.S. Court of Appeals upholds Wisconsin’s employment testing and validation methods in a discrimination case.

1986

Pilot Day Care Center opens in Madison with funding provided through DER.  Day care startup grant program was begun several years later and lasted until the mid-1990’s

1988

SEO (State Employment Options) program is started to help qualified AFDC recipients compete for state jobs.

AIMS and ERCS electronic human resource systems become operational, replacing manual systems.

1990

Approximate number of employees - 57,300

1992

Walk- in civil service testing began to eliminate advance application requirement.

1993

Job On-line Bulletin Service (JOBS) placed on the Internet to improve access for applicants.

1998

Civil Service Reform law enacted to allow more flexible certifications, lengthen reinstatement to 5 years and repeal residency requirement for job applicants.

Broadbanding negotiated into the WPEC contract to reduce number of pay ranges and classifications and give more flexibility.

2001

Governing Magazine gives DER an A- for its HR programs, one of only three states to receive such a high mark.

2002

First phase of WiscJobs, an online application and testing system, is rolled out.

Approximate number of employees - 63,300 - Classified and Unclassified only

2003

DER re-created as Office of State Employment Relations attached to DOA for administrative purposes.  Personnel Commission abolished.

2005

The State of Wisconsin celebrates the Civil Service Centennial.