Exotic Dancers Should Be Paid Minimum Wage, Judge Says

Exotic dancers formerly employed at Rick’s Cabaret International Inc. were entitled to be paid a minimum wage because they were employees of the club and not independent contractors, a U.S. judge ruled.

Former strippers sued Peregrine Enterprises Inc., which operates Rick’s New York, and two corporate parent entities, RCI Entertainment New York and Rick’s Cabaret International Inc., in federal court in Manhattan. The plaintiffs alleged each of the entities were employers who failed to pay them salary, violating federal and state labor laws. The dancers said they instead received performance fees from customers for personal dances.