Homecare workers are paid minimum wage or less without any perks or benefits. Homecare pay is far less than normally associated with complicated hazardous working environments that homecare workers face or jobs that involves human life and death consequences. All homecare management is sharply focused on cost containment or maximizing profit which has caused a total breakdown in the homecare integrity across the nation. Medical institutions recklessly shuffle patients back home to be cared for by poorly educated, unsupported, destitute homecare workers. Homecare workers are expected to preform like will paid, fully supported, trained medical professionals. Homecare workers are oppressed, abused and underappreciated without any worker protections that all other occupations enjoy. Homecare workers suffer wage discrimination by not being paid for overtime or at or below minimum wage “not unlike sweat shops” regardless of hours worked. Homecare workers are barred from going out on strike, a good moral for patient protection but oppressive for homecare workers. When a homecare worker is threaten with dismissal if asking for take a day off, to go on vacation or stay home sick. That is abuse. Homecare workers receive no vacation pay, sick pay, bonuses, retirement funding, health insurance, dental or eye care, training, hazard condition pay, swing or night shift premium pay, basic personal protection; gloves, mask, scrubs, gowns. One on one homecare work is far more complicated and difficult than skilled nursing unit work, due to the lack of support, training and relief. Homecare workers are an extension of the medical community but without the recognition, respect and compensation. Homecare workers are largely considered and treated equal to an unskilled inexperienced immature juvenile babysitter. This is all wrong for homecare workers and bad for those needing homecare. The nation must come to grips with the reality that homecare is complicated and very serious work that requires training, support, livable conditions and sustaining economic compensation as with any other highly skilled occupation.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 23:55:46 +0000