Mass. home care workers may receive more rights
Activists in Massachusetts are pushing for domestic employees to gain more legal protection in the workplace. On Nov. 12, the Labor and Workforce Development committee held a hearing for a proposed bill that would increase labor rights for home care employees, a group includes about 67,000 nannies, caregivers and housekeepers in the state. The bill would allow the workers to file abuse and harassment complaints with the state commission. It would also protect them from surveillance by employers, give them the right to sick time, rest periods and severance pay, reported the Associated Press.
Co-sponsored by Democratic State Rep. Michael J. Moran and Senator Anthony W. Petruccelli, the bill would require signed contracts between employers and workers, detailing duties, pay, time off, and other relevant agreements.
Three other states have passed laws enforcing labor rights for domestic workers, including California, Hawaii and New York.
In September, a similar law was passed on the federal level, amending the Fair Labor Standards Act to include home workers in overtime and minimum wage protections, according to the Department of Labor.
Since FLSA now extends protection to domestic workers, it is more vital than ever to correctly track employee time. Attendance software can be used to track hours for home care employees, ensuring they are paid adequately for time worked.
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