Opinion ID: 4578731
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Permanency of the relationship

Text: The first factor examines the “length and regularity of the working relationship between the parties” because independent contractors “often have fixed employment periods and transfer 2 See, e.g., Verma v. 3001 Castor, Inc., 937 F.3d 221, 229–32 (3d Cir. 2019); McFeeley v. Jackson St. Ent., LLC, 825 F.3d 235, 241–44 (4th Cir. 2016); Reich v. Circle C. Invs., Inc., 998 F.2d 324, 328–29 (5th Cir. 1993); Hurst v. Youngelson, 354 F. Supp. 3d 1362, 1378 (N.D. Ga. 2019); Hart v. Rick’s Cabaret Int’l, Inc., 967 F. Supp. 2d 901, 912–19 (S.D.N.Y. 2013); Jones v. Shac LLC, No. 2:15-cv-01382-RFB-NJK, 2019 WL 4246681, at –13 (D. Nev. Sep. 6, 2019); Pizzarelli v. Cadillac Lounge, L.L.C., No. 15-254 WES, 2018 WL 2971114, at –6 (D.R.I. Apr. 13, 2018). -6- Case No. 20-3287, Agment, LLC v. Gilbo from place to place as particular work is offered to them, whereas ‘employees’ usually work for only one employer and such relationship is continuous and indefinite in duration.” Keller, 781 F.3d at 807 (citation omitted). For exotic dancers, courts generally find that because “nude entertainers tend to be transient or itinerant,” this “factor is entitled to only modest weight in assessing employee status under the FLSA.” Hurst v. Youngelson, 354 F. Supp. 3d 1362, 1377 (N.D. Ga. 2019) (first quoting Clincy v. Galardi S. Enters., 808 F. Supp. 2d 1326, 1348 (N.D. Ga. 2011); then quoting Hanson v. Trop, Inc., 167 F. Supp. 3d 1324, 1332 (N.D. Ga. 2016)). While that may be true as a general matter, Gilbo and Smith were not transient workers. Gilbo worked at Brass Pole from approximately August 14, 2018 to March 26, 2019 (seven months), and Smith worked at Brass Pole from approximately June 22, 2018 to June 3, 2019 (almost a year). These are significant periods of time. This stands in contrast to the previous case against Brass Pole where the plaintiffs had worked for Brass Pole for only a few months. See Lester, 2016 WL 1588654, at . Furthermore, this factor focuses on exclusivity, not just length. Gilbo and Smith worked for Brass Pole and Brass Pole alone while they were there. Therefore, this factor weighs in favor of Gilbo and Smith.