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What I've Been Reading This Week: N.F.L. Cheerleader Wage & Hour Lawsuit Edition


Every so often, I come across a few good articles on a particular topic during the week that warrant a "What I've Been Reading This Week" post dedicated solely to that topic.  Given the recent announcement of a settlement of the first Oakland Raiders cheerleader lawsuit for $1.25 million (plus a few other provisions), I thought this would be a good time to note some articles on the wage and hour fights of these current and former N.F.L. cheerleaders.  As always, below are a few articles that caught my eye this week.


An Inside Look at the Wage & Hour Fight of the N.F.L. Cheerleaders

Bloomberg Businessweek has a very good article that takes an inside look at the wage and hour lawsuits brought by several N.F.L. cheerleaders.  The article has a very intriguing take at the impact these lawsuits have had, not just on the other cheerleaders who are now out of work (for instance, this is the first time in nearly 5 decades that the Buffalo Bills will not have cheerleaders on the sidelines) but also on the overall value that the cheerleaders bring to the teams and the league.


What Value do N.F.L. Cheerleaders Add?

Howard Bloom's article takes a close look at the actual value that the N.F.L. cheerleaders bring to the team and the league and compares it to the minimal salaries the cheerleaders actually make.  The article notes how instrumental cheerleaders have become in the league, such as the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, and points out how earlier this year, the Atlanta Falcons offered an incentive to allow season ticket holders to order a seat-side visit by a Falcons cheerleader.  Sounds to me like the cheerleaders certainly bring value to the league...the question then becomes, just how valuable are they and what compensation are they entitled?


Cheerleaders v. the N.F.L. - A Comparison of Lawsuits

I really enjoyed this article from the Wall Street Journal if for no other reason then it had a good chart that breaks down the pay rate (or lack thereof) of each cheerleader that has brought a wage and hour claim this year.  Interestingly enough, the article highlights two teams that are paying its cheerleaders a lawful wage, the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboy, and contrasts their pay rates with the teams that have been sued by current and former cheerleaders.  Like the above article from Bloomberg Businessweek, this article primarily focuses on the Buffalo Bills lawsuit as that one has garnered a lot of attention since the team decided to disband the cheerleading squad for this season.

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