The protections provided by § 181.932 are therefore not available to plaintiffs. See Werner v. New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., 824 F. Supp. 890, 893 (D.Minn. 1993) (holding that Minn.Stat. § 181.932 is inapplicable where plaintiff was an independent contractor). Even if plaintiffs were somehow covered by the whistleblower statute, they have failed to satisfy their prima facie case of retaliation.