102.56 Disfigurement.
(1) Subject to sub. (2), if an employee is so permanently disfigured as to occasion potential wage loss due to the disfigurement, the department or the division may allow such sum as the department or the division considers just as compensation for the disfigurement, not exceeding the employee's average annual earnings. In determining the potential for wage loss due to the disfigurement and the sum awarded, the department or the division shall take into account the age, education, training, and previous experience and earnings of the employee, the employee's present occupation and earnings, and likelihood of future suitable occupational change. Consideration for disfigurement allowance is confined to those areas of the body that are exposed in the normal course of employment. The department or the division shall also take into account the appearance of the disfigurement, its location, and the likelihood of its exposure in occupations for which the employee is suited.
(2) If an employee who claims compensation under sub. (1) returns to work for the employer who employed the employee at the time of the injury, or is offered employment with that employer, at the same or a higher wage, the department or the division may not allow that compensation unless the employee suffers an actual wage loss due to the disfigurement.
History: 1971 c. 148; 1977 c. 195; 1987 a. 179; 2011 a. 183; 2015 a. 55.
The Labor and Industry Review Commission's allowance of a disfigurement award based on a limp was a reasonable interpretation of this section. Nothing in sub. (1) limits disfigurement to amputations, scars, and burns. County of Dane v. LIRC, 2009 WI 9, 315 Wis. 2d 293, 759 N.W.2d 571, 06-2695.
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 102 - Worker's compensation.
102.03 - Conditions of liability.
102.04 - Definition of employer.
102.05 - Election by employer, withdrawal.
102.06 - Joint liability of employer and contractor.
102.075 - Election by sole proprietor, partner or member.
102.076 - Election by corporate officer.
102.077 - Election by school district or private school.
102.078 - Election by real estate firm.
102.08 - Administration for state employees.
102.11 - Earnings, method of computation.
102.12 - Notice of injury, exception, laches.
102.123 - Statement of employee.
102.125 - Fraud reporting, investigation, and prosecution.
102.13 - Examination; competent witnesses; exclusion of evidence; autopsy.
102.14 - Jurisdiction of department and division; advisory committee.
102.16 - Submission of disputes, contributions by employees.
102.17 - Procedure; notice of hearing; witnesses, contempt; testimony, medical examination.
102.175 - Apportionment of liability.
102.18 - Findings, orders and awards.
102.19 - Alien dependents; payments through consular officers.
102.195 - Employees confined in institutions; payment of benefits.
102.21 - Payment of awards by local governmental units.
102.22 - Penalty for delayed payments; interest.
102.25 - Appeal from judgment on award.
102.27 - Claims and awards protected; exceptions.
102.28 - Preference of claims; worker's compensation insurance.
102.29 - Third party liability.
102.30 - Other insurance not affected; liability of insured employer.
102.31 - Worker's compensation insurance; policy regulations.
102.315 - Worker's compensation insurance; employee leasing companies.
102.32 - Continuing liability; guarantee settlement, gross payment.
102.33 - Forms and records; public access.
102.38 - Records and reports of payments.
102.40 - Reports not evidence in actions.
102.42 - Incidental compensation.
102.425 - Prescription and nonprescription drug treatment.
102.43 - Weekly compensation schedule.
102.45 - Benefits payable to minors; how paid.
102.47 - Death benefit, continued.
102.48 - Death benefit, continued.
102.49 - Additional death benefit for children, state fund.
102.52 - Permanent partial disability schedule.
102.53 - Multiple injury variations.
102.54 - Injury to dominant hand.
102.55 - Application of schedules.
102.555 - Occupational deafness; definitions.
102.565 - Toxic or hazardous exposure; medical examination; conditions of liability.
102.57 - Violations of safety provisions, penalty.
102.58 - Decreased compensation.
102.59 - Preexisting disability, indemnity.
102.60 - Minor illegally employed.
102.61 - Indemnity under rehabilitation law.
102.62 - Primary and secondary liability; unchangeable.
102.64 - Attorney general shall represent state and commission.
102.65 - Work injury supplemental benefit fund.
102.66 - Payment of certain barred claims.
102.75 - Administrative expenses.
102.80 - Uninsured employers fund.
102.81 - Compensation for injured employee of uninsured employer.
102.82 - Uninsured employer payments.
102.83 - Collection of uninsured employer payments.
102.835 - Levy for delinquent payments.
102.84 - Preference of required payments.
102.85 - Uninsured employers; penalties.