Exotic Dancers Win Employee Status, Double Damages in Wage Suit

A group of exotic dancers convinced a federal judge in Kentucky that they qualified as employees entitled to minimum and overtime wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act, not independent contractors.

The dancers worked exclusively at The Godfather, a strip club in Louisville, Ky., “for a considerable time,” and the club exercised “immense control” over their work and opportunities for profit, Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings said Tuesday.

The dancers were required to sign a noncompete and follow specific rules about their attire, performances, and interactions with customers, the court said. If they violated these rules, they were subject to discipline. ...