The Hill News

Last month the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that home care is the fastest-growing occupation in the United States. More jobs will be created in home care than in any other occupation through 2020.

But this positive news is tempered by the negative realities facing many workers in the industry. Home care work is too often “expected but not respected,” in the words of worker Tracy Dudzinski, dismissed as neither skilled nor demanding enough to qualify as a real job. That may explain the surprising fact that home care workers are denied federal minimum wage, overtime, and other protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a law that was passed over 70 years ago.

Reform is long overdue, but it may be finally taking root. On December 15, Tracy stood proudly behind President Obama as he announced a proposed rule that would provide most home care workers with FLSA coverage. Unfortunately, an opposition movement led by highly profitabl! e national home care corporations is trying to keep the rule from being issued.

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