WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge has struck down Labor Department regulations extending minimum wage and overtime pay to nearly 2 million home health care workers.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon says the rules conflict with federal law that has long exempted providers of in-home care for the elderly and disabled from complying with wage laws.
President Barack Obama announced the rules in 2011 as part of his effort to boost the economy and help workers without going through Congress. They were set to take effect next year.
But home care industry groups sued, arguing the higher wages would make it tougher for families to afford care for aging parents.
Worker advocacy groups that lobbied for higher pay say many home care workers live at or below the poverty level.
Monday, December 22, 2014
home health workers rescrewed
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There are two scenarios involved:
ReplyDeleteThere are professional care workers who spend a few hours per week with each client. They are trained to give injections and provide medical care on a nursing level for clients who require it but cannot afford to remain in hospitals or choose not to go into nursing homes. Considering the nature of many nursing homes and the human desire to have a home and not be incarcerated, i can't blame them for such a choice.
And there are those who are caring for an elderly relative in their homes who want financial help for increased costs due to the needs of that care. They would fear loss of that help should the shortage of funds in that industry be shunted to the wages of those who make a living from it.
At root the problem is the shortage of funds allowed by the congressional budget. But they've always preferred war to healthcare.