Photo by Nick Otto for the Washington Post
A San Diego judge ruled last week that Instacart has been misclassifying its California-based shoppers by calling them independent contractors, reports NBC News. It’s an important milestone following the signing of Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), a California law that makes it more difficult for companies to define workers as contractors as a way to avoid providing health insurance and other workplace benefits.
Instacart says it will appeal the decision. “We’re in compliance with the law and will continue to defend ourselves in this litigation,” the company said in a statement to NBC News. San Diego City Attorney Mara W. Elliott first filed a lawsuit in September, arguing that Instacart’s workers did not meet the criteria, known as the “ABC…