Strippers Win Worker Status Misclassification Claims

Exotic dancers in Maryland who were compensated only with customer tips are entitled to wages because they were incorrectly classified as independent contractors rather than dance club employees, a federal appeals court ruled.

Worker classification is important because there are a “variety of workplace protections for employees, not the least of which is wage and hour laws,” Gregg Greenberg, an attorney for the dancers, told Bloomberg BNA June 8.

“If we call them a contractor, businesses don’t have to follow those rules or pay payroll taxes and other withholdings associated with employees,” Greenberg said.

Attorneys for the clubs didn’t respond ...