• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'

2

Former VP Kamala Harris says she went through a nine-hour interview to land the job—but she couldn’t escape ‘gold medal depression’ even when she won

3

A new trade war may be brewing. This time, Europe is taking a page from Trump's playbook — 'We no longer live in a world of pink ponies and rainbows'

1

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'

2

Former VP Kamala Harris says she went through a nine-hour interview to land the job—but she couldn’t escape ‘gold medal depression’ even when she won

3

A new trade war may be brewing. This time, Europe is taking a page from Trump's playbook — 'We no longer live in a world of pink ponies and rainbows'
LeadershipMinimum Wage

Yet Another NFL Team Settles a Cheerleader Lawsuit Over Poor Pay

Claire Zillman
By
Claire Zillman
Claire Zillman
Editor, Leadership
Down Arrow Button Icon
Claire Zillman
By
Claire Zillman
Claire Zillman
Editor, Leadership
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 27, 2016, 5:33 PM ET
Kansas City Chiefs v New York Jets
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 11: New York Jets cheerleaders perform during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium on December 11, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)Photograph by Jeff Zelevansky—Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

NFL cheerleaders have notched another win against the league in their ongoing battle to earn at least minimum wage.

The New York Jets agreed last week to pay cheerleaders nearly $324,000 to settle claims first filed in May 2014. The class-action lawsuit filed by a woman who goes by Krystal C. claimed that she and other cheerleaders were paid less than the minimum wage. They earned $150 per home game but were not compensated for practice time and promotional appearances, nor were they reimbursed for expenses like hair straightening. (The Jets cheerleaders—known as The Flight Crew—are required to have straight hair.)

The lawsuit against the Jets is one of five filed against NFL teams by cheerleaders. The Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals faced similar suits. In September, a former Milwaukee Bucks cheerleader sued the NBA team for violating the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act and Wisconsin’s prevailing wage and payment laws.

The settlement in the Jets’ case, which will be paid out to 52 current and former cheerleaders, is the latest in a series of concessions and legislative victories that have gone cheerleaders’ way.

The first came in September 2014, when the Raiders—the first NFL team to get hit by a cheerleader lawsuit—agreed to a $1.25 million settlement with 90 former cheerleaders. Each Raiderette received at least $2,500 for each season they worked. The Buccaneers settled with disgruntled cheerleaders for $825,000 in March 2015, and the Bengals agreed to pay their cheerleaders $255,000 to end a wage lawsuit in October.

Earlier this month, cheerleaders for the Bills won a court ruling that allowed their lawsuit to go forward. The team had argued that the women were independent contractors and therefore had no labor rights under state law. But a judge ruled that because the women were forced to abide by a strict code of conduct—rules on how to wear their hair, how to maintain proper hygiene, and how much bread to eat in public—there was nothing “independent” about their employment.

In addition to financial payouts, the lawsuits have prompted legislative action. In July, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law that requires professional sports teams to consider cheerleaders employees and pay them at least minimum wage while compensating them for all practices and appearances.

Lawmakers in New York State proposed a similar bill in June. While the Jets are a New York team, they actually play in New Jersey, as do the New York Giants, so the bill, if passed, may not apply to them. Heather Sager, press secretary for the Independent Democratic Conference, told Fortune that “the legislation would apply to any New York-based professional sports team, such as the Buffalo Jills, New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets. If the Jets are not based in New York, it would not apply to them.”

Despite the string of victories, it’s not all good news for professional cheerleaders. The settlements from NFL teams have come in spite of a declaration by the Department of Labor in March 2014 that the Raiderettes were exempted from minimum wage laws because they are “seasonal” employees. And the lawsuit against the Buffalo Bills effectively disbanded the team’s cheerleading squad. After the Bills were sued by five former cheerleaders in April 2014, the company that manages the cheerleaders suspended the Buffalo Jills’ operations. A Bills spokesman told Fortune on Wednesday that the team has not fielded a Jills squad at home games for the last two seasons.

About the Author
Claire Zillman
By Claire ZillmanEditor, Leadership
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Claire Zillman is a senior editor at Fortune, overseeing leadership stories. 

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

astronaut
Commentaryspace
NASA just named an all-male crew for ‘Artemis III’: what’s a woman to do?
By Savanah F.S. Bray, PhDJune 22, 2026
54 minutes ago
Veteran Middle East CEO says business in the region isn’t retreating—it’s resetting
NewslettersCEO Daily
Veteran Middle East CEO says business in the region isn’t retreating—it’s resetting
By Diane BradyJune 22, 2026
1 hour ago
Dow futures drop as first day of U.S.-Iran talks sees Trump threaten Tehran on Hormuz: ‘You close it and you won’t have a country’
EnergyIran
Dow futures drop as first day of U.S.-Iran talks sees Trump threaten Tehran on Hormuz: ‘You close it and you won’t have a country’
By Jason MaJune 21, 2026
7 hours ago
Why men keep dropping out of the labor force: It starts in childhood, when kids see how males around them struggle, economists say
EconomyLabor
Why men keep dropping out of the labor force: It starts in childhood, when kids see how males around them struggle, economists say
By Jason MaJune 21, 2026
14 hours ago
andy
PoliticsUnited Kingdom
Meet Labour’s ‘King of the North,’ the 56-year-old representing Greater Manchester and challenging Keir Starmer
By Jill Lawless, Danica Kirka and The Associated PressJune 21, 2026
15 hours ago
f
SuccessParenting
The tribe called the world’s best fathers gets outpaced by rich American dads
By Darby Saxbe and The ConversationJune 21, 2026
21 hours ago

Most Popular

Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
Success
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
By Sydney LakeJune 21, 2026
1 day ago
Former VP Kamala Harris says she went through a nine-hour interview to land the job—but she couldn’t escape ‘gold medal depression’ even when she won
Success
Former VP Kamala Harris says she went through a nine-hour interview to land the job—but she couldn’t escape ‘gold medal depression’ even when she won
By Emma BurleighJune 21, 2026
1 day ago
A new trade war may be brewing. This time, Europe is taking a page from Trump's playbook — 'We no longer live in a world of pink ponies and rainbows'
Economy
A new trade war may be brewing. This time, Europe is taking a page from Trump's playbook — 'We no longer live in a world of pink ponies and rainbows'
By Jason MaJune 20, 2026
2 days ago
'I literally was crying last night because I’m nervous about what I’m going to find out': a record 51% of Americans aren't 'cost secure' on health
Health
'I literally was crying last night because I’m nervous about what I’m going to find out': a record 51% of Americans aren't 'cost secure' on health
By Ali Swenson, Amelia Thomson-Deveaux and The Associated PressJune 20, 2026
2 days ago
NBC’s Tom Llamas climbed from 15-year-old intern to the top anchor chair—and still isn’t satisfied: ‘If you're not growing, you're dying'
Success
NBC’s Tom Llamas climbed from 15-year-old intern to the top anchor chair—and still isn’t satisfied: ‘If you're not growing, you're dying'
By Preston ForeJune 21, 2026
24 hours ago
Tenzin Seldon: The GLP-1 boom is the biggest climate story no one is pricing in
Commentary
Tenzin Seldon: The GLP-1 boom is the biggest climate story no one is pricing in
By Tenzin SeldonJune 21, 2026
24 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.