June 7, 2022

Employment Discrimination Firm News Independent Contractor Misclassification

Rollins Authors Article on Independent Contractors and the MHRA

Firm attorney Katy Rollins was published in the May/June 2022 issue of Bench & Bar of Minnesota, the official publication of the Minnesota State Bar Association. In her article, “Protecting Gig Workers and Independent Contractors Under the MHRA”, Katy examines how the “business discrimination” section of the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) can be used to hold companies accountable for discrimination against their independent contractors.

As most anti-discrimination laws only protect employees, companies are often able to avoid liability for discrimination against independent contractors. Applying the “business discrimination” section of the MHRA to independent contractors allows these important workers to hold companies liable. In the article, Katy discusses how the section is traditionally used in case law and how it may apply to independent contractors. She goes on to discuss the outcomes of two Minnesota court cases brought by independent contractors alleging discrimination under this provision of the MHRA.  You can read her article online here or in the current issue of the Bench & Bar of Minnesota magazine.

Katy began working with Wanta Thome PLC attorneys in 2019 as a Law Clerk for the law firm of Baillon Thome Jozwiak and Wanta, before joining the team as an Associate Attorney after her admission to the bar in the fall of 2021. She is passionate about protecting individuals who have faced unlawful discrimination in the workplace. To speak to an experienced employment attorney about your rights at work, contact Katy or any of our attorneys by clicking here or calling 612-252-3570.