Why are CNAs paid less than telemarketers?

roser13, ASN, RN · Jan 19, 2011

The only valid reason that I can supply is that hospitals pay what they pay because they can. No employer will voluntarily pay anyone more than they have to and apparently there are CNA's willing to work (read: needing a job) for the current wages.

Your question is often the reason that strikes are taken against employers. If all employees in a certain category refuse to come to work, perhaps management will increase wages or give other contract considerations, whatever the issue is.

gemimi · Jan 19, 2011

Coming from the administrative point of view, they pay so little because they can. If CNAs and/or nurses would stand together instead of tearing each other apart every time they turn around (ie: that's not my patient....ever hear that one?) and just decide that enough is enough they would find out how very valuable they really are. Who do you think is going to do that care if you strike? I do, however, know of one strike that was lost in MI (Petoskey) where it literally went on for more than a year, divided the town, and many many nurses lost their jobs related to others who crossed the picket line. Managememet dug in and entrenched and so did the nurses. Result? No go, friends and family affected, care affected, and a mess. They have recovered and are now moving on, but it didn't do a lot to change things.

thinkertdm · Jan 19, 2011

For an excellent answer, take an economics class. For a short answer, telemarketers bring in money. CNA's, although they may be the hardest workers in the world, don't increase the money the company makes, so they get paid as little as the employer can get away with.

In fact, I don't even think it's a capitalist issue; people who use/reduce the company's resources get paid as little as possible; people who bring in customers/business/money get paid less.

StNeotser, ASN, RN · Jan 19, 2011

For an excellent answer, take an economics class. For a short answer, telemarketers bring in money. CNA's, although they may be the hardest workers in the world, don't increase the money the company makes, so they get paid as little as the employer can get away with.
In fact, I don't even think it's a capitalist issue; people who use/reduce the company's resources get paid as little as possible; people who bring in customers/business/money get paid less.

It is a capitalist issue............you said so much yourself. Good post. It's a shame of our society for a good CNA is truly worth their weight in gold.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2011

Because CNA's WILLINGLY work for crap pay instead of choosing more lucrative jobs like telemarketer or grocery bagger.

They do it because it is easy to become a CNA. Those that won't work for crap pay, don't, and their positions are filled by the next crop of month-long-CNA-class students from the nearest trade school.

It's the same reason EMTs work for $7/hr. It's the same reason that paramedics work for $12-15/hr.

PS, this is the future of nursing if we as a profession continue to allow new grad overproduction and keep entry standards low.

Jules A, MSN · Jan 19, 2011

Heck I don't know why they aren't making what we make! Bless them, I love my techs, but wouldn't want to do their job for my pay. Its a shame and a case of taking advantage of undereducated people many of whom have few other options.

TDCHIM · Jan 19, 2011

I agree with the previous posters. However, I'd also like to add that telemarketers often work on a form of commission. If a telemarketer keeps up her call volume and recovers sizable amounts from lots of accounts each month, she can make a good living. If not, she quickly loses that job. Also, telemarketers put up with horrific, frequent-to-constant verbal abuse from those they contact.

None of that is meant to say they perform a more valuable service than CNAs or that they necessarily deserve to be paid better; however, telemarketers also perform a service (of sorts) that most of the US population wouldn't want to do on a bet, just as CNAs do. A good telemarketer generates income, while a good CNA doesn't; hence, the difference in wages between the two. It definitely isn't fair.

scrubbee · Jan 19, 2011

Pay in any professional generally has nothing to do with the work at all, but rather with how valuable the employee is to the company in terms of profits.

sd_iwant2banurse · Jan 19, 2011

I think it's a problem with many jobs in our society. IMHO we are focused on money versus quality of life, and it's reflected in pay in most professions. I wonder if pay scale is similar in professions in other countries?

This news link points out the differences in pay by role, for example a trader makes $1 million while a neurosurgeon makes $500k. I like this quote in the article:

“The bottom line is all the people in investment banking understand that they work harder and are under more stress,” said Jeanne Branthover, a managing director at Wall Street recruitment firm Boyden Global Executive Search. “Many don’t think they’re paid enough.”

Work harder? Under more stress? Versus other bankers? Do they realize how much money they make compared to say a nurse who has people's lives in their hands? What other profession is more stressful than healthcare?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-13/traders-smaller-bonuses-still-top-pay-for-brain-surgeons-4-star-generals.html

littlemammanurse, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2011

it drives me crazy that CNA's go to school to get the education that they get to take care of an elderly mother or father,special needs children and everything in between, they bust their butts all day and work very hard and have a lot of responsibilities.Yet those who don't have an education,like telemarketers, get paid an exuberant amount of money to **** people off every day?Hmm what a concept to think of.

smily nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2011

the same reason bus drivers make as much as some school nurses