Former Waukesha Dairy Company Ordered To Pay Wages, Benefits

WAUKESHA, WI – A Waukesha dairy operation that abruptly closed down nearly eight years ago must pay at least $1.1 million in wages and benefits to former employees, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Wednesday.

Kaul announced that a Delaware bankruptcy court has approved an agreement that will require Golden Guernsey Dairy, LLC, to pay at least $1.1 million in wages and other employment benefits owed to its former employees after abruptly closing down in 2013 and filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Golden Guernsey Dairy filed for bankruptcy without paying its employees or providing the advanced closure notice required by state law, according to Kaul.

“DOJ and DWD worked together to obtain over $1 million in wages owed to former Golden Guernsey Dairy employees. Hard-working Wisconsinites shouldn’t have to go without pay for their work because their employer went bankrupt,” Kaul said in a news release.

"One of the most important functions of the Department of Workforce Development is administering state laws designed to protect the Wisconsin worker," Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Deputy Secretary Robert Cherry said. "I am proud of the work put in by both DOJ and DWD staff on this, and many other cases."

Before closing in 2013, the company employed over 100 people at its 170,000 square foot dairy processing, bottling and distribution facility in Waukesha.

In January 2013, Golden Guernsey shut down operations without providing the required notice under Wisconsin’s business closure law, officials said. Under that law, employers of at least 50 or more persons in the state must provide at least 60 days advance notice to both its employees and state and local government officials prior to closing, officials said.

Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report.