Obama to extend wage law to cover 2 mln home care aides

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Obama to extend wage law to cover 2 mln home care aides
Source: Reuters - Tue, 17 Sep 2013 07:08 PM

* Announcement made by newly installed Labor Secretary Perez

* AFL-CIO chief praises expansion of labor protections

By Amanda Becker

Sept 17 (Reuters) - The Obama administration said on Tuesday it will extend the protection of U.S. minimum wage and overtime law to almost 2 million home health workers who assist the elderly and disabled.

Home health aides, personal care aides and certified nursing assistants will be brought under the coverage of the Fair Labor Standards Act, effective in January 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor said in a statement.

"Today we are taking an important step toward guaranteeing that these professionals receive the wage protections they deserve while protecting the right of individuals to live at home," said Thomas Perez, who was sworn in on Sept. 4 as President Barack Obama's new labor secretary.

There are an estimated 1.9 million "direct care" workers in the United States. They are typically employed by home healthcare agencies, the department said. Their median pay in 2010 was $9.70 per hour, or about $20,000 per year.


Read more: http://www.trust.org/item/20130917190032-xwiiv/?source=search

[snort]

1. Wow! Minimum Wage?

I sense a fantastic new career path!

[Skittles]

8. hey, it's a start

those folk have worked under seemingly no protection at all

[deurbano]

2. My daughter was on stage (at the WH) at a press conference with President Obama in Dec., 2011

when he first proposed to extend this protection to home health aides. In the last few years, she has been very involved in domestic workers' rights, especially in California (where we live).

http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/photos/slideshows/20111215-solis-obama.htm

(She's in the second and third photos-- the young woman in the wheelchair.)

Exciting day!

[frazzled]

3. Kudos to your beautiful daughter!

I applaud her work. And so glad she got to attend that WH event!

[deurbano]

13. Thanks so much! We are very proud of her.

My husband (her dad) accompanied her to Washington, and he got to attend the event, too. He was planning on sending back photos to me from his iPhone, but my mom called and said the press conference was on CNN and MSNBC, so I was able to watch, too!

[Skittles]

9. wow

she's awesome and has GREAT HAIR to boot!!!

[deurbano]

14. Thank you! She's a wonderful woman and a wonderful daughter.

And she does have pretty great hair. I will pass along that compliment along to both my daughter and husband, since my husband is the one who helped get her ready for the event. Since she is quadriplegic, she needs someone to fix her hair (etc.), and usually that person is me, so I was a little worried how everything would turn out-- meeting the President, meeting the Labor Secretary, being photographed, and possibly being on TV! (Normally, for something that important, we would both go with her to Washington, but one of us needed to be around for our younger kids who were attending the last week of school before winter break-- with performances, finals, etc.)

[Skittles]

18. aw you did great

and for a wonderful cause

[Judi Lynn]

11. They really got the President's attention, didn't they? It's great

Last edited Tue Sep 17, 2013, 07:12 PM - Edit history (1)

for the progress this far, and very best wishes for more success to her, and other rights workers. Theirs is an occupation which deserves regard and gratitude from everyone.

I truly don't believe this would ever have happened with any Republican in the President's office.

Thank you for adding the photos of your tremendous daughter!

[deurbano]

26. Thanks very much...that's very kind of you! And thanks to you for the OP!

Yes, I can't quite envision Romney or McCain doing this!

It was really interesting for my husband (in the audience at the press conference) to talk to the lawyers and other employees from the Department of Labor. They said they spend so much time working on things that never come to fruition, and for many of them, this was their first time at at such an event at the White House. They were thrilled!

[Sivafae]

25. I know her from the Area Board 5.

That is so awesome. I will have to thank her when I see her again as I work as an Attendant for a another woman who was on the Area Board 5 who recently resigned--and a childhood friend of your daughter.

Your daughter's activism for people with disabilities is inspiring.

[deurbano]

28. Yes, they went to school together! Tell her hello for me!

And thank you very much for your kind words!

[tabasco]

4. Somebody help me out

How does this fit into his evil scheme to give all the money to the 1% ers?

[nashville_brook]

5. can we PLEASE give them paid sick time too? i mean, with the whole "caring for the sick"

thing, etc.

direct care givers are one of the worst treated professions regarding sick time. so insane. they care for our most fragile loved ones. they're the last people who should have to choose between keeping a job and calling in sick.

[azurnoir]

7. Now that would be something

along with paid vacation time, too

[azurnoir]

6. well kudo's

especially seeing as how US minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and the median wage for home care aids is is $9.70 an hour, I'm sure they're just thrilled with this

[Jackpine Radical]

15. The median wage may be above minimu, but that doesn't mean that all caregivers

are paid above minimum. Also, the extension of overtime regulations is likely to be welcome to many.

This is a step in the right direction, and I'm glad for it.

[azurnoir]

19. I didn't say it wasn't however

don't be surprised if in some places the new regs aren't used as an excuse to lower the wages of care givers, at least new hires, under the "well Obama said so" clause

[Jackpine Radical]

20. N, I won't be surprised by that.

What we really need is a revitalized labor movement in this country, and any improvements in the lot of the people at the bottom of the wage scale will be in the pittance category until that happens. Nevertheless, it's better to see some slight amelioration in their conditions instead of the increased pain the Republicans would gladly inflict on them.

[tabasco]

21. I'm sure a lot of them are

I knew the crybaby brigade would make this bad news somehow.

[azurnoir]

22. I pointed out a fact you don't like

and I'm a cry baby

[tabasco]

23. You take good news for hundreds of thousands of workers

and portray it as bad news. So....if the bib fits.....

[azurnoir]

24. well thanks for supplying us with a self portrait

even though I don't remember asking for one, however as I told another poster this one could also be used to lower the wages of new hires in the home care industry, perhaps things like paid vacation time, sick days, guaranteed higher wages would help too

[Cha]

10. 2 Million.. Good for those workers.

[Kingofalldems]

12. This is what Democrats do

Ayn Rand republicans serve the rich.

[grilled onions]

16. They Are Such A Vital Part Of Humane Care

There are so many who can actually stay in their homes IF they have good care. For many it's a chance to stay with their pets, a world they have had for decades. These workers do so much and so many show such compassion for their patients. As this world ages we will need more such workers and it's time to start showing them with respect for doing such important work. It's not easy work and far too many think it's little more than emptying bed pans. No two days are the same but they make such a huge impact on their charges. For many the workers are their only companion. I applaud these workers.

[Skeeter Barnes]

17. Next up needs to be overtime after eight hours worked for all workers.

Trucking companies can work hourly paid drivers up to the maximum allowed per DOT regs and pay no overtime, if they want. I know Southeastern freight lines does this. One of their drivers told me they work 12-14 hours per day but it's all straight time. That is the next thing that needs to go.

[Bennyboy]

27. Awesome, I am a IHSS worker

and this is good news.

[mucifer]

29. I have always felt that these jobs are very important and it is extremely hard work

It's not just the physical part of the job. It's very emotional. Especially spending long hours with people who have trouble moving and or communicating their needs. It's also a very isolating career to be one on one with someone.