Exotic Dancer’s Suit Challenges Independent Contractor Status
An exotic dancer who says she once made up to $100,000 a year in tips claims in a lawsuit that the club where she once danced should have classified her as an employee rather than an independent contractor.
Dancer Quansa Thompson, who went by the stage name “Love,” claims the Washington, D.C., club called The House owes her $75,000 in wages and overtime pay, the Washington Post reports.
According to the Post, “Thompson found a lawyer, Philip Zipin, who after some research concluded that The House, like a preponderance of strip clubs across the country, classified its dancers as “independent contractors” —as if they were plumbers, only without the tool belt (not to mention the shirt, pants and underwear).”
The article says some strippers prefer independent contractor status, partly because of the tax write-offs. They deduct the costs of breast augmentation and mileage, and get to be their own boss. On the downside, they aren’t entitled to workers’ compensation if, for example, they fall off the pole.
In Thompson’s case, she contends The House treated its dancers as employees without paying minimum wage. According to Thompson, the club paid dancers $20 to show up, but required them to in turn pay a $20 fee to the DJ, and another $20 to the bartender. Dancers were fined $10 for being late and $80 for missing a shift, even in cases of illness.
The House denies the allegations.
