Strippers Say Business Practice Hurting Their Bottom Line
DETROIT (WWJ) - They are being labeled as independent contractors, but now three current and former exotic dancers are suing a club owner for treating them as employees instead.
In the lawsuit, the dancers say they are forced to give up part of their wages and share their tips -- but attorney Megan Bonanni says if you're an independent contractor, that's against the law.
"In other states they are paid minimum wage and they keep their tips and that is what the law prescribes," said Bonanni. "There are a number of lawsuits across the country that successfully challenged this misclassification of exotic dancers."
"They are misclassifying them as independent contractors - so you can't just label someone 'independent contractor' if you are treating them in every respect as an employee, you can not do that," she said.
The dancers worked at clubs including The Coliseum, Flight Club and the Penthouse Club -- all owned by the same individual.
