Two women are suing a Lubbock strip club with allegations of federal wage violations. In the lawsuit, the dancers said they weren’t paid for the hours they worked, which violates the minimum wage laws.
Jaguars has not responded to KLBK’s requests for comment on the lawsuit.
“That’s not OK. Don’t take advantage of girls like that. I mean they’re already getting taken advantage of as a dancer. I just don’t think it’s right,” said one of the former exotic dancers.
She worked at Jaguars in Lubbock for three years before she called it quits.
The plaintiffs say the managers of Jaguars not only treated them poorly, but also didn’t keep time sheets, payroll records or other important documents.
“A lot of us go to school, and we’re not as dumb as you think. We know what’s right and what’s wrong,” she said.
The lawsuit said the dancers were required to pay Jaguars a daily fee for getting on stage and also required to pay a fee for skipping a rotation on stage.
The dancer said she understands she has to pay a ‘house fee’ to dance in their club but added the problem is with the extra manager fees.
“Why are we all doing this for you? What are you doing for us besides yelling at us, threatening to suspend us, threatening to fire us?” she said.
The dancer said she started dancing because she had to, but it became a battle between school and paying her bills.
“I’m sitting in the back like doing my homework instead of making money. It would get to that point. I really need to make this money, so I don’t take a quiz that I need to for school. I’m sitting in the back like on my laptop, using my phone for Wi-Fi, just to get my stuff done for school.”
She said it was mentally exhausting working there, and she just wants to get what she and other dancers deserve.
“I just hope by suing the club maybe it will put things into perspective, not to take advantage of people,” she said.
We’ve reached out to Jaguars Lubbock several times for comment, but we haven’t heard back yet.
More information on the lawsuit: Lubbock strip club sued by dancers, allegations of federal wage violations
