Direct Care News: Companionship Exemption Hurts CNAs Too

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For direct care workers and their allies

July 16, 2013

Companionship Exemption Hurts CNAs Too

Helen Hanson

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 25, 1938. Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, the first woman to ever hold a seat as a presidential cabinet member, was the driving force behind a minimum wage, a 40 hour work week, and abolishing child labor. Secretary Perkins and President Roosevelt pushed for FLSA because they believed in a livable wage for a day's work. Over the years, those labor protections have been expanded to more and more workers for the same reason every time -- and the same reason President Obama gave in 2011 when he proposed to extend minimum wage and overtime protections to home care workers -- "it's the right thing to do." Yet, home care workers continue to be excluded from these protections. Read more from Helen Hanson.

Direct from Washington, D.C.

Senate Appropriations Committee Bill Contains Wins for Direct Care Workers: On July 11, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the Fiscal Year 2014 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill. The bill provides $165.6 billion in discretionary budget authority to make investments in key areas --including implementing health care reform, providing more job training and helping states develop paid leave programs-- all of which can significantly benefit direct care workers. The next step for the appropriations bill is consideration by the full Senate, then the U.S. House of Representatives.

House of Representatives Cuts Nutrition Assistance from Farm Bill: On July 11, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a new version of the farm bill, which does not include funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is often referred to as food stamps and offers nutrition assistance to 48 million low-income individuals --including direct care workers-- and their families. Due to the House farm bill's omission of nutrition assistance programs, the U.S. Senate is not expected to pass the bill, and the White House has said it will veto the bill. Learn more about the bill. The House is expected to vote on the food stamp portion of the bill later this month.

Employer Mandate for Health Care Coverage Delayed: The Affordable Care Act's employer mandate requiring businesses that meet certain requirements to provide their employees with health insurance will be delayed until 2015. Direct care workers are among those who stand to benefit from the employer mandate, as those who work for qualifying employers will have an opportunity to access health care through their employers. Click here for more information about direct care workers and health care reform, and stay tuned for more information about DCA's efforts to make sure that every uninsured direct care worker has the information they need to get affordable health coverage.

Friends

David Moreau

Stefani got her trach out, which is good news,

but now she no longer needs nursing care

and is going to lose her home placement -

and day program as well.

She's pretty upset about it. And I'm upset too.

She's been good with Toby,

who follows her like a puppy,

but she likes him and can tell him,

"Toby, I need my space now,"

unlike Fay who gets upset and needs

someone to step in between them.

Read more from David Moreau.

Quick Links

Direct from the Headlines

NELP Fact Sheet finds a steep decline in real wages for home health aides and personal care aides.

The White House released a video explaining why immigration reform is good for our economy.

CNBC reports on the nearly 40 million American workers without paid sick days.

Worker-owned home care coop in Canada is profitable and growing.

Direct Care Alliance is the national advocacy voice of direct care workers in long-term care. We empower workers to speak out for better wages, benefits, respect, and working conditions, so more people can commit to direct care as a career. We also convene powerful allies nationwide to build consensus for change.

If you have comments on this issue of The Direct Care News or ideas for future issues, please contact David Ward at 212-730-0741 or dward@directcarealliance.org.