Just when Wisconsin’s working families thought it couldn’t get worse, legislative Republicans introduced another proposal to erode workplace freedoms.

After passing legislation to drive down worker wages, decrease workplace safety and interfere with private business contracts, Sen. Van Wanggard (R-Racine) and Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) are now proposing to make weekends “voluntary” for Wisconsin workers.

“What world are Republicans living in where they think that workers shouldn’t have at least one day off a week,” said Sen. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). “As if it wasn’t enough that Republicans are driving down wages and making workplaces more dangerous. Now, they want to make weekends optional. Republicans have taken our state’s proud progressive history completely backwards and created a new “Regressive Era” in Wisconsin.”

The Republican legislation would allow workers to “voluntarily” waive Wisconsin’s “one day of rest in seven” law which has been in place for decades as a way to prevent employees from being overworked. By making this workplace safety provision “voluntary,” Republicans are reducing worker protections and making it easier for businesses to take advantage of hardworking employees.

“It’s no wonder why Wisconsin is losing ground to our neighboring states like Minnesota who are investing in worker training, raising family wages and attracting good-paying, high-tech jobs,” added Shilling. “Rather than rolling back decades of workplace safety laws, Republicans should focus on fixing the $2.2 billion budget deficit they created.”