MADISON – Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Manny Perez today announced the appointment of John C. Metcalf as Administrator of the Division of Worker’s Compensation.
“John Metcalf has the expertise in worker’s compensation we need to strengthen Wisconsin’s competitive edge and advance Governor Walker’s agenda of creating jobs,” Secretary Perez said. “At Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, he has focused on worker’s compensation matters, and I am pleased that he is now a member of my leadership team.”
Secretary Perez said Wisconsin ranks among the best states in worker’s compensation programs. The worker’s compensation premiums that employers pay on average are the lowest among Midwest states. The average cost per case is among the lowest of all states. By comparison, he said, Illinois has the highest WC premiums in the Midwest and the fourth highest average cost per case.
“Wisconsin was the first state with a worker’s compensation program, and as we hold our centennial celebration this year, John will help us build on the program’s success,” Secretary Perez said. Prior to his appointment, Administrator Metcalf was Director of Human Resources Policy at WMC. He joined WMC in 1988, and since then, he has specialized in employer-employee relations, unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation. He coordinated the WMC “friend of the court” program in which WMC filed legal briefs representing the business community in major court cases and administrative agency proceedings.
While with WMC, he has served on a number of boards and advisory panels, including the Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council Study Commission, and the Worker’s Compensation Rating Committee of the Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau. Administrator Metcalf’s previous experience includes serving as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations (now DWD). He also worked as a legislative aide in the Wisconsin State Senate.
Administrator Metcalf is a University of Wisconsin Law School graduate. He earned his undergraduate degree in history and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Source: WI DWD