California bill AB5 has passed. Everyone is busy focusing on how this affects Uber drivers but as we spoke about last June, it’s a big deal for porn stars too. The California Labor Federation just tweeted a confirmation of what we have said all along, porn stars are now “employees”.
“As a worker in the adult industry, the moment you walk on to set, your employer is responsible for your safety..Being recognized as an employee will ensure you are protected, paid properly & more prepared for your future.”
Under the new law, porn stars will have to be treated as employees and receive benefits like overtime pay, minimum wages, health care, and parental leave.
Hiring workers as employees rather than contractors can add 20% to 30% to labor costs, given Social Security and Medicare taxes, unemployment and disability insurance, workers’ compensation, sick leave, minimum wage, overtime, rest breaks and protection against discrimination and sexual harassment.
For a long time, labor law typically included special rules for the entertainment industry. AB5 does not include carve-outs for entertainment industry laborers including musicians and film crew workers and yes, porn stars too.
The California labor board has long said that they consider porn performers “employees” at least that’s how they often rule when it comes to wage claims. But now that AB5 this makes is official across the entire state for all gig workers which now apparently now includes porn stars.
AB5 will go into effect starting January 1, 2020.
3 Responses
What does this do to people that have incorporated themselves as a “loan out” corporation? I realize that in this industry this pretty much only affects Cherie DeVille and maybe Bailey Rayne but I think it is a reasonable question. I wonder if one of the reporters here that have a Juris Doctorate could read the new law and comment on this (my doctorate isn’t in law).
Can porn star be fired for showing up for work late?
The studios will just move more work out of CA and go to Miami or Las Vegas more.