A former Milwaukee Bucks dancer is suing the team for wage abuse.
According to Ben Handelman of FOX 6 News in Milwaukee, Lauren Herington has filed a federal lawsuit demanding that the Bucks pay her money she is owed. Her lawyers have termed the wrongdoing “prolific wage abuse” and allege that the Bucks are taking advantage of their dancers.
Herington says she moved five hours from home to take a job as a Bucks dancer in 2013 when she was 19. She called working for the team an “amazing experience,” but she claims she worked extremely long hours for very little pay. Herington was paid $65 per game, $30 per practice and $50 for each special appearance. The lawsuit claims dancers are never compensated for overtime and have to cover their own costs for hair, makeup and uniform dry cleaning.
“We think there are certain weeks where Ms. Herrington`s hourly rate fell to the $3/hour or $4/hour level,” Herington’s attorney Ryan Stephan said.
Herington spent one year dancing for the Bucks. If she wins her case, it could have a ripple effect across the NBA. The Bucks say they are looking into the issue.
“We take these issues seriously and are looking into the matter,” the team said in a statement. “At this time we have not been served with a complaint and therefore are not in a position to comment further.”
We have seen NBA dancers treated unfairly in the media in the past, but the allegations from Herington are far more serious.
