Delays in the final stage of a legislation that will provide homecare workers with overtime pay and minimum wage is making the sector nervous that it may not go through in time.
The Companionship Services Exemption, enacted in 1974 by Congress, is meant to exclude casual companions for the senior citizens and babysitters from minimum wage requirements and overtime pay and not to waive government pay guidelines for professionally-trained caregivers.
And after years of failed attempts in changing the guidelines, US President has announced last year of plans to alter the exemption and apply the wage protections to homecare workers under private agencies. Because of this almost 1.8 million homecare workers will potentially see a pay increase under this plan.
