Jarrett v. Labor & Industry Review Commission

**What Happened** A worker named Jarrett was injured while working for B & D company and applied for workers' compensation benefits. The Labor and Industry Review Commission denied his claim, determining he was an independent contractor rather than an employee. Jarrett disagreed and took the case to court, arguing he should be classified as an employee and therefore entitled to workers' compensation coverage. **What the Court Decided** The Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled against Jarrett. The court upheld the Labor and Industry Review Commission's decision that he was an independent contractor under Wisconsin's legal test for determining worker classification. As an independent contractor, Jarrett was not eligible for workers' compensation benefits from his employer. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights the critical importance of worker classification. Only employees are entitled to workers' compensation benefits when injured on the job - independent contractors must rely on their own insurance or bear the costs themselves. Workers should understand how they're classified by their employers, as this affects their access to benefits like workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, and workplace protections. The classification depends on factors like how much control the employer has over how work is performed.