Emergency Treatment, S.C. v. Department of Employment Security

**Court Rules Medical Workers Are Employees, Not Contractors** Emergency Treatment, S.C., a medical company, tried to classify several of its workers—including physicians, a scheduler, and an auditor—as independent contractors rather than employees. This classification mattered because employers must pay unemployment insurance contributions for employees but not for contractors. The Illinois Department of Employment Security disagreed and said these workers should be classified as employees, meaning the company owed unpaid unemployment contributions. The court sided with the Department of Employment Security. After reviewing the working relationship, the court determined that these medical professionals were actually employees under Illinois unemployment insurance law, not independent contractors. The company was ordered to pay $670.46 in unpaid unemployment contributions plus interest. **What This Means for Workers:** This ruling reinforces that employers cannot simply call workers "contractors" to avoid paying required benefits and contributions. Courts look at the actual working relationship—not just job titles—to determine if someone is truly an employee. When workers are properly classified as employees, they gain important protections like eligibility for unemployment benefits if they lose their jobs. This decision helps ensure medical professionals and other workers receive the employment protections they deserve.