fighting slave wages! for home care /direct care workers

[thomasbrooks07]

hey everyone I am still a college student and work as a CNA at a home health and hospice in Washington state. I work for a non profit agency which all ready pays below what my areas going rate for cna's is and I knew that going in. The people I work for and with are amazing and we have multiple awards to prove this.

The problem I have is that as a student I am really only able to work weekends when school is in session. I work two 12 hour sleep overs and one 12 hour day shift every weekend. My strait pay rate is $9.75 an hour but the way medicare is set up even tho I work 12 full hours at night they only a flat rate of $70.04 for the whole 12 hours. That is only $5.84 an hour which is complete slave wages.

They pay $5.84

federal min wage is $7.25

Washington state min wage is $8.55

my strait pay rate is $9.75

$5.84 is $1.41 less than federal min wage 2.71 less than washington state min wage and $3.91 less than my actual pay rate.

I have been killing my self working full time 37 hours a weekend helping make those who are scared and in constant pain be as comfortable as possible in their homes. I get no sleep at work I spend the whole night watching over my patients cleaning up after their accidents and I make less than I would if I worked for minimum wage at burger king.

I have never been political before out side voting in elections but I have been doing this almost a year and its not right. Someone has to speak up and I know its probably hopeless for one man to change the system but if no one says anything than it will never change. I am planning on writing my my political officials and seeing if maybe I can get a story out in the local news outlets. Hell maybe even get a petition started to show community support against the slave wages the government has decided to pay for some of the most disgusting and emotionally hard work in the field.

If anyone has any ideas on how to go about this or what their feelings are this subject I would love to hear them.

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

First of all, slave wages are $0. Enough with the hyperbole.

Second of all, your post is completely confusing. Are you getting paid $5.84 or $9.75/hour? If your pay rate is over the minimum wage, why are you complaining? If you aren't getting paid the amount you say is your pay rate, why are you still working there?

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

Now you have a little taste of what the docs get to go through when the government decides what the reimbursement rate should be.

Call or write your local congressperson. Let them know what's going on. Maybe you will get a nibble.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Slave wages are zero - you make more than that.

Second, you have the freedom to quit and go elsewhere - slaves cannot do that.

Third, if they are breaking the law report them.

Fourth, if you do not care for your wages, you have the same freedom that all of us have - find another, better paying job.

[systoly]

So, why not work at Burger King?

[thinkertdm]

I'm also a little confused. How is the "government" involved in setting what you make? The way the system works is that you look for a job that will pay you what you want. It's that simple.

I realize you are upset. I only made minimum wage in NY- at a Burger King, no less. But instead of becoming "politically active", I put in my two weeks, and got a -better paying- job at a supermarket while I went to school.

Try to make yourself more competitive, rather than having the government force employers to pay you more.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

This really seems to me to be an issue of finding a better paying job. The 'sleep over' shifts seem to fall under a flat rate or salary type thing... (perhaps they expect you will be asleep most of the time and are just there for emergencies?) I really don't know how it works... :/

Anyway- isn't it up to the HHC company to make sure you're getting your total pay? They may be non-profit.. but that doesn't mean the people further up the totem pole aren't making a nice salary. You should take this up with your boss.

[Simply Complicated]

I didn't read all of that. BUT if you are making less than minimum wage, call the labor board. They HAVE to pay minimum wage. I'd also look for another job.

[caliotter3]

When I was in nursing school I worked as a CNA for $5.45 an hour and there was no "sleeping over" in the equation. If you don't like the circumstances, go to work straight eight hour shifts for another employer where you are paid the going rate.

[CCL RN, RN]

So, why not work at Burger King?

Or starbucks. I hear they pay $10/hr and have benefits, even for part time employees...

[gymnut]

OK, pet peeve time.

Saying you make slave wages is equivalent to people comparing every president elected into office to Hitler (If you visited enough forums you know what I'm talking about). It trivializes the subject matter. Slaves were taken from their country, forced to work hard manual labor for $0, beaten, starved and sexually assaulted.

Sorry for the rant. There are just some things.....lol.

ANYWAYS...So just out of curiosity what does medicare have to do with your wages? I know in my state they have to reimburse you for your tuition but that's about it. Also what are you going to college for? If it's something non medical then I would just get a job anywhere else that pays decent. Where I live most grocery stores pay almost $10/hr.

If it's something medical related then I can see why you wouldn't want to go into the retail environment. I would just keep looking for another job in another home health agency or LTC.

Another option is to look in the paper and see if you can find anyone advertising for home care for a loved one. My mom did that for awhile. She watched a 99 year old woman overnight Fri, Sat and Sun and was getting paid $300 under the table for those 3 days. All she did for the most part was sleep and occasionally toilet. I know there's the issue of insurance and all but it's worth a shot. I see a lot of advertisements in my paper of people looking for care.

[zahryia, LPN]

I don't fully understand the OP's post, but I think people are making too much of a big deal of the term 'slave wages'. It's not that serious.

And just for the record, there were slaves in history that received a wage. It didn't happen in this country, but it happened elsewhere.