01 Healthcare workers
Nurses, aides, technicians, therapists, and clinical staff. Unpaid overtime, missed breaks, and retaliation for raising patient-safety concerns.
Common claims: Unpaid Wages Discrimination Retaliation
Who we help
Nurses, drivers, welders, teachers, engineers, servers, executives. We represent employees — at every level, in every kind of workplace — when they’ve been wronged at work.
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Who does Wanta Thome represent?
Wanta Thome represents employees across every industry in Minnesota and Illinois — hourly and salaried, entry-level and executive. We’re a plaintiff-side firm: we only represent workers, never employers. If you were discriminated against, harassed, underpaid, fired, or retaliated against, we can help — whatever your job.
One side only
We only represent workers.
Never companies.
Wanta Thome represents employees across every industry in Minnesota and Illinois — hourly and salaried, entry-level and executive.
We’re a plaintiff-side firm: we only represent workers, never employers. If you were discriminated against, harassed, underpaid, fired, or retaliated against, we can help — whatever your job.
Whatever you do for a living, we’re on your side of the table — and we’ve never been on the other one. Let’s talk
The people we work with
Our clients come from every corner of the workforce. Here’s a sample — not a limit.
02 Professionals, managers, and executives
Engineers, directors, VPs, and C-suite leaders. Wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation — often with significant compensation on the line.
Common claims: Wrongful Termination Discrimination Retaliation
03 Skilled trades and industrial workers
Welders, machinists, assemblers, and maintenance techs. Unpaid overtime, contractor misclassification, and retaliation for reporting unsafe conditions on the job.
Common claims: Unpaid Wages Retaliation
04 Drivers and transportation workers
Truckers, bus drivers, delivery crews, and flight staff. Misclassification, unpaid drive time, and wages that never account for every hour worked.
Common claims: Unpaid Wages Employee Misclassification
05 Warehouse, retail, and logistics
Order selectors, merchandisers, stockers, and store staff. Off-the-clock work, wage theft, and retaliation against workers who report an injury or a violation.
Common claims: Unpaid Wages Employee Misclassification
06 Hospitality and food service
Servers, cooks, housekeepers, and hotel staff. Stolen tips, minimum wage violations, and harassment that’s treated as part of the job.
Common claims: Unpaid Wages Harassment
07 Educators and school staff
Teachers, aides, counselors, and instructional staff. Discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination dressed up as a budget cut or a non-renewal.
Common claims: Discrimination Retaliation Wrongful Termination
08 Security and facilities
Guards, custodians, cleaners, and grounds crews. Unpaid overtime, discrimination, and retaliation for reporting what they were told to overlook.
Common claims: Discrimination Unpaid Wages Wrongful Termination
Don’t see your job? Call anyway.
This is a sample of who we represent, not a list of who qualifies.
If you work for a living and something went wrong, we want to hear about it.
Senior and executive employees have rights too
Executives are employees, and get wronged at work too
We represent directors, VPs, and C-suite leaders in wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, and disputes over the terms of their employment.
High earners often have the largest claims and the most complex situations, and they deserve the same determined representation as anyone else. If you were pushed out or treated unlawfully at a senior level, we can help.
What we handle
So I got discriminated because I’m... Mexican
Discrimination
Standing up for workers treated unfairly because of who they are
At work, I have to deal with... being called slurs
Harassment
Holding employers accountable when the workplace becomes hostile or unsafe
I got fired after I... asked for medical leave
Wrongful Termination
When a firing crosses the line from unfair into illegal
My employer... didn’t pay me overtime
Unpaid Wages
Recovering pay that employers owe but haven’t paid
After I spoke up, my employer... fired me
Retaliation
When speaking up costs you your job, your hours, or your standing
I’m not the only one who... worked off the clock
Class Action
When one worker’s problem turns out to be many workers’ problem
Not sure if you have a case?
You don’t need to know the name of the law that was broken. You don’t need to be certain you have a case. That’s our job.
Tell us what happened, and we’ll tell you honestly whether we can help — and if we can’t, we’ll try to point you toward someone who can. We can’t tell whether you have a case from your job title. That’s what the free call is for.
When it's not just you
Sometimes the thing that happened to you happened to everyone in your role
If your employer shorted you on overtime, misclassified you, or skimmed tips, it probably didn't do it to you alone.
When a problem affects a whole group of workers, those claims can be brought together — which can make a case stronger, and can make it worth pursuing even when any single person's losses seem small. If your coworkers are in the same boat, tell us. It matters.
Learn about class and collective actions
How we work
Every case starts with a free call. We listen first. If you have a case, we tell you what it looks like — what’s likely to happen, how long it might take, what’s realistic. If you don’t, we tell you that too, and try to point you toward someone who can help.
The team
Meet the full team
Shawn Wanta
Founding Partner
Recognized among the nation’s Top 100 Civil Plaintiff and Top 10 Wage and Hour attorneys, a determined litigator fighting for workers in class and collective actions.
Admitted in MN · IL
Kristan Burgess
Attorney
Leveraging over 25 years of experience and bilingual fluency, a compassionate ally dedicated to empowering everyday wage earners and dismantling workplace inequities.
Admitted in IL
Joni Thome
Founding Partner
Drawing on 25 years of representing professionals and managers, a steady advocate for employees facing discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace.
Admitted in MN
Suzanne Heywood
Attorney
Driven by her own encounters with corporate unfairness, a tenacious champion focused on protecting the rights, livelihoods, and futures of hardworking professionals.
Admitted in IN · IL · MI
I’m really thankful for Taylor and the team for everything they did for me. This process wasn’t easy, but Taylor was always patient, kind, and made sure I understood what was going on. I never felt rushed or ignored, and that honestly meant a lot.
I’m incredibly grateful for the time and care that Taylor Volkman has given me. From the very beginning, he took the time to really listen to my situation and understand the details of what I’ve already tried on my own. He provided me with a clear list of possible paths forward and even gave me the vocabulary I can use when addressing issues with my employer.
What stood out most is how patient and thorough he has been — making sure I understood my options, validating the steps I’ve already taken, and helping me feel prepared to advocate for myself. He never rushed me, and it was clear that his priority was making sure I felt supported and informed.
Even though he hasn’t charged me for the time he has spent so far, the guidance has been invaluable. I strongly recommend Taylor to anyone who needs thoughtful, practical, and compassionate legal support.
I don’t even know where to start. I have nothing but good things to say about Wanta Thome ESPECIALLY about Joni and Thomas! They went to bat for me like no other. They made me feel comfortable and treated me with the respect I deserved. They fought hard for me and helped guide me through each process. I was confident that they had my best interest at heart. After we were done I didn’t want to leave them. They are now my new family members (not sure if they know it or not). All in all, go with Wanta Thome, they’re no suckers! 10’s across the board.
Common questions
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Do you only represent certain kinds of workers?
No. We represent employees across every industry and at every level — hourly, salaried, and executive. The list on this page is a sample of who calls us, not a list of who qualifies. What matters is what happened to you, not your job title.
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Do you represent salaried and management employees, or only hourly workers?
Both. Managers, professionals, and executives are employees too, and they’re often the ones with the most at stake. Being salaried doesn’t mean you’ve given up your rights — including, in many cases, the right to overtime.
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What if I’m an independent contractor, not an employee?
Worth a conversation. Many workers labeled “independent contractors” are actually misclassified employees who are owed overtime, benefits, and protections. Whether you’re truly a contractor depends on how you actually work, not on the label — and we can help you figure that out.
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What if I already left the job?
You can still have a case. Whether you quit or were fired, you don’t lose your rights to unpaid wages, or to claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or wrongful termination, just because you’ve moved on. Deadlines do apply, so reach out sooner rather than later.
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What if I’m not sure my problem is big enough?
Call anyway. Some of our most significant cases started as one worker who wasn’t sure they had anything — and turned out to represent a problem affecting hundreds. Even when an individual claim is small, it may be part of something larger. Let us help you find out.
Ready to find out where you stand?
Five fields, no story needed yet — that comes on the follow-up call. Most people hear back within five minutes if Nina is enabled, or the same business day if not.
Your submission is confidential. We do not contact your employer.
Common questions
Do you only represent certain kinds of workers?
No. We represent employees across every industry and at every level — hourly, salaried, and executive. The list on this page is a sample of who calls us, not a list of who qualifies. What matters is what happened to you, not your job title.
Do you represent salaried and management employees, or only hourly workers?
Both. Managers, professionals, and executives are employees too, and they’re often the ones with the most at stake. Being salaried doesn’t mean you’ve given up your rights — including, in many cases, the right to overtime.
What if I’m an independent contractor, not an employee?
Worth a conversation. Many workers labeled “independent contractors” are actually misclassified employees who are owed overtime, benefits, and protections. Whether you’re truly a contractor depends on how you actually work, not on the label — and we can help you figure that out.
What if I already left the job?
You can still have a case. Whether you quit or were fired, you don’t lose your rights to unpaid wages, or to claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or wrongful termination, just because you’ve moved on. Deadlines do apply, so reach out sooner rather than later.
What if I’m not sure my problem is big enough?
Call anyway. Some of our most significant cases started as one worker who wasn’t sure they had anything — and turned out to represent a problem affecting hundreds. Even when an individual claim is small, it may be part of something larger. Let us help you find out.