Internet minimum wages?

[Toby]

Originally Posted by RawAlex

...unless they are specifically employees assured an hourly / weekly / monthly wage, there is no "minimum wage" that applies.

Whether or not they qualify as employees is determined by the criteria established by applicable labor law. In the US that criteria varies somewhat from state to state.

You can be a commission employee and still be subject to minimum wage, should earned commisions not be sufficient.

[RawAlex]

Originally Posted by Toby

Whether or not they qualify as employees is determined by the criteria established by applicable labor law. In the US that criteria varies somewhat from state to state.

You can be a commission employee and still be subject to minimum wage, should earned commisions not be sufficient.

That would only be if they are employees. If they are independant contractors just using your system, there is no real obligation. It might be different if they work in your facility and you give them a fixed work schedule, otherwise they are free to work when they want and where they want. I cannot imagine any state mandating a minimum wage for people who are not even on your payroll in any manner.

[Toby]

Originally Posted by RawAlex

...It might be different if they work in your facility and you give them a fixed work schedule...

Such as a web cam studio?

I think you'll find that most states in the US would define these studio cam workers as employees, not idependent contractors.

[Forest]

Originally Posted by Toby

Such as a web cam studio?

I think you'll find that most states in the US would define these studio cam workers as employees, not idependent contractors.

i ran studios in 4 states for years and ALL talent was paid a % of their earnings and treated as 1099 independent contractors just like a commission sales agent

[Toby]

Originally Posted by Forest

i ran studios in 4 states for years and ALL talent was paid a % of their earnings and treated as 1099 independent contractors just like a commission sales agent

And that is just fine, so long as they're making at least the equivalent of the minimum hourly wage.

I worked retail commission sales for 15 years. If a salesperson didn't earn enough commission to make minimum wage then they were paid an hourly rate at the current minimum wage. That didn't happen often, and when it did the salesperson didn't stick around long.

My point being, the work requirements and conditions determine whether someone is an employee or not, as set by the applicable state labor law. If the workers are on site and have an assigned schedule, then in most states they would probably be considered employees if someone pushed the issue.

[RawAlex]

Originally Posted by Toby

Such as a web cam studio?

I think you'll find that most states in the US would define these studio cam workers as employees, not idependent contractors.

I bet there are plenty of real estate agents right now that would love to make minimum wage for all the hours they sit in an office, independently working.

[Rcourt64]

Originally Posted by Toby

Such as a web cam studio?

I think you'll find that most states in the US would define these studio cam workers as employees, not idependent contractors.

Ya well ok, But that's kinda hard to do when performers only get paid by "show performed per minute", right?
There could be hours that they might sit around without a single customer.
I don't agree with paying employees (as the state might refer to them) for just showing they're pretty face online without producing money till they are taken private. I'd go broke.

[Toby]

Originally Posted by Rcourt64

Ya well ok, But that's kinda hard to do when performers only get paid by "show performed per minute", right?
There could be hours that they might sit around without a single customer.
I don't agree with paying employees (as the state might refer to them) for just showing they're pretty face online without producing money till they are taken private. I'd go broke.

Whether or not you like or agree with it isn't relevant. If you're requiring them to be on duty during a specified time period, and they're working from your studio, then they're almost certainly considered employees.

Minimum wage isn't the only issue involved here either. If they're employees then there's workers comp insurance, payroll taxes, and other employee/employer responsibilities too.

There are ways to get around it, one possibility was mentioned in an earlier post by RawAlex, but you'll want to run that by an attorney familiar with applicable local labor law.

[softball]

Originally Posted by Rcourt64

Ya well ok, But that's kinda hard to do when performers only get paid by "show performed per minute", right?
There could be hours that they might sit around without a single customer.
I don't agree with paying employees (as the state might refer to them) for just showing they're pretty face online without producing money till they are taken private. I'd go broke.

I thought you already were broke.

[Rcourt64]

Originally Posted by rhetorical

I thought you already were broke.

Yup that's how it goes,
One minute your on top rolling with the high life, and the next your back at the bottom without notice or shit.

But at least I'm not in jail yet like DD is. There cracking down here in Tampa, I've had my share of knocks at the door from authorities already concerning what I do.
Fuck 'em, they ain't got shit!


Thanks for the replies everyone. It all helped clear up the wages crap for me.

[softball]

Originally Posted by Rcourt64

Yup that's how it goes,
One minute your on top rolling with the high life, and the next your back at the bottom without notice or shit.

But at least I'm not in jail yet like DD is. There cracking down here in Tampa, I've had my share of knocks at the door from authorities already concerning what I do.
Fuck 'em, they ain't got shit!


Thanks for the replies everyone. It all helped clear up the wages crap for me.

I have never understood why anyone would be in a business that the cops would knock on your door for no real profit. I can understand if you are risking it for high dough. I have been there and won that horse race. But why would anyone do it for the monthlies on a Honda Civic? There are much better ways to make a living. In fact just about anything is a better way to make a living.