The U.S. Department of Labor has initiated a federal lawsuit against a Wichita gentlemen’s club, Pleasures, and its operator, Mother’s Finest LTD. The lawsuit, filed on January 6, 2025, seeks to recover wages and damages for 80 female entertainers who were allegedly denied full wages and had fees illegally deducted from their tips.

An investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division revealed that Pleasures misclassified dancers as independent contractors. This misclassification deprived them of overtime pay and other benefits. Furthermore, it was found that dancers were required to sign contracts with clauses mandating reimbursement to the employer if litigation or investigations led to recovered lost wages.

The complaint was lodged in the U.S. District Court of Kansas in Wichita. It demands back wages along with an equal amount in liquidated damages for the affected dancers. Additionally, it seeks a court order preventing Pleasures from retaliating against employees and violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Reed Trone, Wage and Hour Division District Director in Kansas City, Missouri stated: “There are very specific rules that determine if a worker is an independent contractor or an employee. In this case, Pleasures acted as an employer because they set work hours, schedules and terms of the dancers’ contract.” He emphasized the department's commitment to defending workers' rights under federal law.

Christine Z. Heri, Regional Solicitor of Labor in Chicago added: “Employers cannot require workers to ‘kick back’ wages they might receive as a result of litigation against the employer.” She expressed intent for the court to hold Pleasures accountable for these practices.

For those seeking more information about wage recovery or filing complaints, resources are available through the Wage and Hour Division’s helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Additionally, employees can download a Timesheet App available on iOS and Android devices to track hours worked accurately.