Asma Masri v. State of Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review

**What Happened:** Asma Masri was an unpaid intern at the Medical College of Wisconsin. When her internship was terminated, she claimed it was retaliation for whistleblowing activities - likely reporting safety concerns or other wrongdoing at the medical facility. Masri sued under Wisconsin's health care worker protection law, which shields employees from being fired for speaking up about problems in healthcare settings. **What the Court Decided:** The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled against Masri. The court determined that unpaid interns are not considered "employees" under Wisconsin's health care worker protection statute. Since the law only protects employees from retaliation, and Masri was classified as an unpaid intern rather than an employee, she had no legal protection under this particular law. The court affirmed that her termination could proceed without violating the whistleblower statute. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This ruling creates a significant gap in workplace protections. Unpaid interns who witness dangerous or illegal activities in healthcare settings cannot rely on Wisconsin's whistleblower law for protection if they speak up. This could discourage interns from reporting important safety issues, potentially putting patients at risk. Workers should understand that employment classification directly affects their legal rights and protections.