DONNA PLATT VS. BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM(PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM)

**What Happened** Donna Platt worked for a government entity under professional services contracts and believed she should be eligible to participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and receive service credit toward her pension. The Board of Trustees disagreed, saying she wasn't eligible because she worked as an independent contractor rather than as a direct government employee. **What the Court Decided** The appellate court sided with the Board of Trustees. The court ruled that Platt was not eligible for PERS participation or pension service credit because she worked under professional services contracts, not as a municipal employee. Under New Jersey law that took effect in 2008, only direct government employees qualify for PERS benefits—not independent contractors or those working under professional services agreements. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling clarifies an important distinction for public sector workers: your employment classification determines your pension eligibility. Workers hired as independent contractors or through professional services agreements cannot participate in the state pension system, even if they work for government agencies. This affects how workers should evaluate job offers and plan for retirement, as contractor positions may offer less long-term security despite potentially higher short-term pay.