The livelihoods of home care providers and the well-being of their clients are under threat.
The Department of Labor is considering a change to a rule that would prevent home care providers from earning the minimum wage, as well as overtime pay.
Home care workers — including thousands of AFSCME members — deliver skilled, essential services for seniors, people with disabilities and others. More than mere “companions,” home care workers allow their clients to live with dignity and independence.
Despite the essential role they play in their clients’ lives, many home care workers are on the brink of poverty. Often earning less than $35,000 a year, almost half of home care workers live in low-income households; the majority are on some form of public assistance. Nearly all home care workers report having to working “off the clock.”
The proposed rule change would severely harm their livelihoods and their clients’ well-being.
Behind this rule change is an effort by the private home care industry to rake in profits at the expense of both providers and the people for whom they care.
Providers will be forced to leave the industry, and patients will struggle to find care options that allow them to avoid costly institutionalization.
Help fight for home care workers and their clients.
Submit a comment to the Department of Labor. Tell them why protecting minimum wage and overtime pay is so important.