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Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
I am shocked that dancers are dancing naked! no not that naked...
But club owners expect them to work off of tips alone and not even pays waitress wage. That means when a dancers gets hurt they are not covered by workmans comp or if they get fired they dont get unemployement insuarnce...Is this common? I talked to my state labor board and they are thinking of getting involeved to force club owners to pay them a wage and pay into Social Security
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
and then what? we are required to work 40 hours a week to get such benefits?
Have to report all our earnings and pool tips? Most dancers wouldn't be into this.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
Oh Gawd, not this crap again ::) ::)
I pay my own SS, as per US tax codes. It is called self employment taxes. Unemployment and workman's comp are also my own responsability, and so I carry I disability insurance policy, and have insurance on all of my loans to cover me in case I am unable to work.
And, yes, I feel that in some cases dancers should be treated as employees. When clubs demand loyality, demand schedule adherence, and demand sales quotas then the dancers need to be treated as employees.
Usually the only dancers who really want to be made employees are the ones who can't cut it on their own sales ability anyway.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
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Originally Posted by trainfinder22
I talked to my state labor board and they are thinking of getting involeved to force club owners to pay them a wage and pay into Social Security
I also want to add that all you are going to acomplish by doing this is drawing media scruitny. The public will get involved, laws will be passed and the clubs will either close down, or become (illegal) brothels to stay open under new more strict ordinances.
In either case you are hurting the very people you are trying to to help, so knock that shit off!
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
No you would not have to work 40 hours a week. Any "Employee" that works 4 or 40 hours a week is entitled to Unemployment and workmans comp and Social Security when they retire. As opposed to Indepnedent contracters who dont get anything unless they buy there own insurance. Waitresses are not required to pool tips in my state at last check.
Problem is just like when I was a Bike Messenger at 20 19 year old dancers dont think about these things untill its too late. I belive that classifiing dancers as employees would add more proffesionalism and add protections that dont exist now like to the right to sue a club owner for sexual harrasment
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
just take it from the strippers, if they say they like it as is, they like it as is and do not need some white knight coming in to try to fix shit. sometimes, best to let things be.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into F
While it may not seem fair, it is the way it is, and I doubt very much if it'll change anytime soon.
I think dancers should be paid whether they work 50 hours or 5--but if I tried to tell my boss that--well, let's just say I know better, lol...
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
trainfinder is doing the same thing on another board but he still doesnt get it and I dont think he will. Each dancer is responsible for her own taxes, medical insurance, ect. God help a dancer who doesnt pay her taxes and Uncle Sam and Mr. IRS show up at her door. If a dancer isnt buying private medical insurance then she is asking for trouble. Each of us will need to prepare for our own retirement, so great investments need to be found. I get paid by every club I work at and trust me its above minimum wage. Its my responsiblity to take care of me and no one elses. Most of us like things the way they are. A union would make all our personal information public but like most dancers I like what little privacy I have left.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
Since when does anyone not have the right to sue anyone else?? I can sue some dude on the public bus if I felt sexually harassed by him. Dancers can sue anyone they feel is sexually harassing them at work, or otherwise.
The only exception would be non US citizens, but that is another topic entirely.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
It would be great to not have to pay SE taxes and for our own health insurance, but that's the price we pay for the freedom we have. Fuck making us employees and focus on removing the employee-like restrictions clubs already impose on dancers so that we can truly be independent contractors. That would be fair.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into F
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Originally Posted by Gemini_Syn
...If a dancer isnt buying private medical insurance then she is asking for trouble...
What's that, lol? I have been doing quite well, as this nice new laptop I am typing on will attest--but insurance is not something I'm going to get unless they make me (like to drive, for instance). I just stay healthy.
But far be it from me to advise anyone else to do likewise.
Quote:
.A union would make all our personal information public but like most dancers I like what little privacy I have left.
very good point....
And Paris, if you read my recent reply on another thread, you will know I respect you a great deal, but a dancer trying to sue anyone for sexual harassment or sexual assault in my town would be laughed out of court. I pray where you live is an exception, but I would tend to doubt it.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into F
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Originally Posted by Djoser
And Paris, if you read my recent reply on another thread, you will know I respect you a great deal, but a dancer trying to sue anyone for sexual harassment or sexual assault in my town would be laughed out of court. I pray where you live is an exception, but I would tend to doubt it.
I'm on the west coast, and the wonderful liberals out here look at all us sex workers as victims anyway. I did know a dancer who felt sexually harrassed by a club owner, sued and won $40,000.00. To beat all, the club owner is FEMALE! AND STRAIGHT!
It is all in the spin. Juries can easily be manipulated, especially by master manipulators as many dancers are.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into F
Some clubs DO pay the dancers per hour. And then those dancers pay taxes, have strict schedules, etc. Just like any other paycheck job.
Personally? No thanks. I like making my own hours, I like not paying taxes on my tips.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into F
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paris
I'm on the west coast, and the wonderful liberals out here look at all us sex workers as victims anyway. I did know a dancer who felt sexually harrassed by a club owner, sued and won $40,000.00. To beat all, the club owner is FEMALE! AND STRAIGHT!
It is all in the spin. Juries can easily be manipulated, especially by master manipulators as many dancers are.
Maybe there is a God, lol...
Though sounds like God might have been angry with that club owner about something.
I stand corrected, except maybe in Florida--but this state sucks, anyway.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
Privacy? Its a matter of socitty aceppting dancers as legit work and being proud of who you are. Everybody knows the Doctors in my town so why not all the strippers? Both are Proffesionals Matter of fact The strippers might make more then the docters after taxes cause the Insuarce companys hit the docters hard..
Try suing a stripper for malpractice.. ::)
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
You are young now...But what will you be thinking when times get tough and you need disability or social security or health insuarnce or Unemployment.
The system works because workers pay into a pool of funds that benifits all workers.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into F
I have health benefits. Through my other job. I actually took the time to find a part time job that offers benefits and still gives me the schedule I want for dancing. Many dancers can afford to buy their own insurance, 2nd job or not.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
Quote:
Originally Posted by trainfinder22
Privacy? Its a matter of socitty aceppting dancers as legit work and being proud of who you are. Everybody knows the Doctors in my town so why not all the strippers? Both are Proffesionals Matter of fact The strippers might make more then the docters after taxes cause the Insuarce companys hit the docters hard..
Try suing a stripper for malpractice.. ::)
Society will accept sex workers as legit about the same time they accept gay realtionships as legit families.
Just because your head is in the sand, it doesn't mean that everything is going to be okay ::) ::) .
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into F
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paris
Just because your head is in the sand, it doesn't mean that everything is going to be okay ::) ::) .
Nah , it just means that sneezing will hurt for a while ::)
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
Quote:
Originally Posted by trainfinder22
You are young now...But what will you be thinking when times get tough and you need disability or social security or health insuarnce or Unemployment.
The system works because workers pay into a pool of funds that benifits all workers.
So in what socialist pipe dream does this system work the best?? Slovakia, Albania, Romania, and Bulgaria? Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgizia, and Uzbekistan? How about Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos or North Korea? Or maybe we can look to a shining example of this system at it best just south of our borders...Cuba!!
Let's all move there and allow some government agency look after all of our needs, and not have to worry about ever having to take any personal responsibility for our own actions and decisions!
Trainfinder22...You go first, we'll all catch up with you later!
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into F
I sincerely apologize to anyone who may take offense to what may seem to be cockiness--but I am not young, lol.
I'm a f*cking vampire.
I do look young--most people guess 15 years under my real age. But most people my age wouldn't cross the street without insurance. I just carry a roll of nickels in case one of the crackheads tries to roll me when I get to the other side (you think I'm kidding, but I almost had to use it two days ago, doing this very thing!).
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
Djoser... I have a feeling that more than a few of our members are older than Trainfinder22.
He seems to have the idealism of a college student who is in his Junior or senior year. Let the world beat him a up a little bit more, and then ask him how he feels about forking over more of his hard earned money to help support f*cked up ex tweekers because it is societies' responcibity to "take care of their own."
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
trainfinder Do we really have to argue with you on 2 forums? We like things the way they are. I CHOOSE to work 40 weeks a year. I CHOOSE to work 80 hours a week in 7 inch heels. I get paid by EVERY club I work at. I put away for my retirement, I pay all my bills, I have medical insurance, I have money put away for JUST IN CASE. I have several sound investments that will take care of me and mine for the rest of my life. ALL this from DANCING and NOT being part of a union. Because of the way things are for us dancers, I get to work where I want, when I want, and do what I want whenever I want. I refuse to pay a union agent money for something I can do perfectly well on my own.
DONT MESS WITH A GOOD THING.
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into F
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paris
Djoser... I have a feeling that more than a few of our members are older than Trainfinder22.
He seems to have the idealism of a college student who is in his Junior or senior year. Let the world beat him a up a little bit more...
Maybe so--goddamn, I was for all intents and purposes a f*cking commie when I was a senior in college--then got the shit kicked out of me for more years than I care to think about.
Compared to, say Melonie for instance (with all due respect to her considerable wisdom, even if I often disagree--and I mean it, M), I'm still a f*cking commie swine, lol--but I'd vote against mandatory health insurance if it came down to it!
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Re: Dancers should be bona-fide employees not Ind. Contraters so employer pays into FICA
train: in short (most often, and despite exceptions to the rule), dancers who are "independant contractors" make more money and have more freedom with schedules, hours, etc. some like to travel...a couple weeks at one club, another club after that, and so on. being an "employee" would complicate things. some clubs do charge ridiculous fees, but a dancer can always move, and sometimes her earnings make up for it.
dancers also love the freedom. most can dictate their schedules to fit their lifestyles, especially if she has school, another job, or childcare committments. some girls only want to dance one night a week, or even a month just to get some extra cash. being employed by a club would likely further complicate things.
like djoser, i've got some "commie (lol)" tendencies, but think the problem has to be addressed by giving average people, not just dancers, access to afforable health insurance. a steady paycheck is nice, but not when it's less than what a dancer is used to. and most girls would not want to dance if it were not for the money incentive, and if not for the freedom (in scheduling) it provides. i can't emphasize this "freedom" idea enough. i danced on an off for 3-4 years (exact count lost) before quitting....the key words being on and off. i also moved across the country during that time period, and began grad school, thus needing the freedom to make my own schedule. i got benefits elsewhere.
most dancers need this freedom. and for those that want the security of a paycheck, there are some places that offer it. i can see the good intentions of the OP, but i honestly don't think it would change the dancing industry for the better. the last thing dancers need is more power in the hands of club owners...