TIGER HOME INSPECTION, INC. v. DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.

# Tiger Home Inspection v. Department of Unemployment Assistance **What Happened** Tiger Home Inspection, Inc. disagreed with the Department of Unemployment Assistance's decision to classify its home inspectors as employees. The company argued they should be classified as independent contractors instead, which would affect whether these workers qualified for unemployment benefits. **What the Court Decided** The Massachusetts Appeals Court sided with Tiger Home Inspection. The court ruled that the home inspectors were independent contractors, not employees. This meant the inspectors did not qualify for unemployment benefits through the traditional employee system. The court found the company met all requirements of the "ABC test," a legal standard used to determine worker classification. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling affects how home inspectors and similar workers are classified. When courts classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees, those workers typically lose access to unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, and other employee protections. This case shows how classification decisions can significantly impact workers' safety nets and benefits, even when they perform regular work for a company.