Great Northern Construction, Inc. v. Department of Labor

**Worker Classification Case: Great Northern Construction v. Department of Labor** This case involved a dispute over whether two workers at Great Northern Construction should be classified as employees or independent contractors. The Vermont Department of Labor said both David LaPointe and Ray O'Connor were employees who should have been covered by unemployment insurance. The construction company disagreed, claiming both men were independent contractors. The Vermont Supreme Court reached a split decision in 2016. The court agreed with the Department of Labor that David LaPointe was indeed an employee and should have been covered by unemployment insurance. However, the court sided with the company regarding Ray O'Connor, ruling that he qualified as an independent contractor under Vermont's ABC test (a three-part legal standard used to determine worker classification). This ruling matters for workers because it shows how courts carefully examine each situation when determining if someone is an employee or contractor. Employee status provides important protections like unemployment benefits, while contractors typically don't receive these benefits. Workers should understand that classification depends on specific job details, not just what their employer calls them. If you believe you've been misclassified, you may have grounds to challenge that decision.