Domestic include workers nannies, childcare providers, caregivers or attendants
to people with disabilities or seniors, house cleaners cooks, gardeners, or other household workers. They work in a private home, whether they are directly hired by the household or by an agency.
What overtime rights do domestic workers have under federal law?
Federal law provides overtime at time and one-‐half after 40 hours of work in a week to the following: live-‐out domestic workers such as nannies, house cleaners, cooks and other domestic workers who are not caregivers or companions. In September 2013, the federal Department of Labor revised its regulations to provide most domestic workers with federal minimum wage and overtime. The regulations do not take effect until 2015.
Solutions:
- Because most domestic workers typically work less than 40 hours a week we recommend municipal and/or state fair scheduling for employees
- We support a municipal and/or state law requiring private employers provide part time and full time employees paid sick leave similar to 40 US cities and 5 states
- Expand the current City of Houston wage theft ordinance and increase financial penalties to all private employers within city limits, not just city contractors
- Do a feasibility study requiring hotels with more than 50 rooms to provide panic buttons to housekeepers similar to major hotel companies
Truth Out – Nearly 20,000 Domestic Workers Are About to Get Fair Wages. How’d They Do That?
Truth Out – Denied the Right to Unionize, Domestic Workers Find New Ways to Organize
Truth Out – At UN Conference, Domestic Workers Push for International Labor Standards
Salon – Behind domestic workers’ new bill of rights
Rewire – Hawaii Passes Domestic Workers’ Legislation, Mirrors New York’s in Substance
Think Progress – Hawaii Becomes Second State To Pass A Domestic Workers Bill Of Rights
Think progress – Big Wins For The People Who Clean Our Homes And Care For Our Children
The Nation – California Governor Signs Domestic Worker Bill of Rights
The Nation – What’s Next for the Domestic Workers Movement?
Boston Globe – Governor Patrick signs Domestic Workers Bill of Rights into law
Statesman Journal – Oregon becomes fifth state to pass domestic worker bill of rights
Time – History Shows How 2 Million Workers Lost Rights
Texas Tribune – Bill: Hire An Illegal, Go to Jail — But Maids Are OK
Domestic Workers in Texas are Fighting for Their Rights
Houston Public Media – Texas Domestic Workers Travel To New Orleans For DACA Hearing
San Antonio Express News – Domestic workers protest treatment
Texas Observer – Eye on Texas: Xiomara, a Domestic Worker Who’s ‘Invisible in Austin’
Yes Magazine – How Domestic Workers Won Their Rights: Five Big Lessons
Mother Jones – Invisible Women: The Real History of Domestic Workers in America
Fast Company – The Domestic Workers Alliance Creates New Framework For Improving Gig Economy Jobs
Capital Public Radio – UCLA Report Finds One In Six Domestic Workers Under Minimum Wage
Dissent Magazine – Domestic Workers at a Crossroads
NPR – MacArthur Grantee Recognized For Advocacy Of Domestic Workers
NPR – As America Grays, A Call For Dignity In Aging And Elder Care
San Francisco Chronicle – Domestic workers speak out to make overtime requirement permanent
The Hill – Supreme Court denies review of minimum wage rule
PBS – Appeals court reinstates wage rules for home care workers
Chicago Tribune – Rauner signs law extending labor protections to domestic workers
Las Vegas Review Journal – Nevada Senate approves protections for domestic workers
New Report Reveals Just How Difficult Life Can Be for Texas’ Latina Domestic Workers
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