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Happy Labor Day!

August 29, 2014

PHI wishes the entire direct-care workforce a very happy Labor Day.

The 4.1 million direct-care workers in the U.S. — personal care aides, home health aides, nursing assistants — perform difficult and important work every day, allowing elders and people with disabilities to live with independence and dignity.

These workers also give peace of mind to the loved ones of elders and people with disabilities.

We would also like to celebrate a victory for the direct-care workforce.

Last year at this time, a segment of this vital workforce — home care workers — were still not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act‘s minimum-wage and overtime protections.

Today, home care workers stand on the verge of achieving these basic wage protections. A rule change, announced by the Department of Labor on September 17, 2013, will finally extend minimum-wage and overtime to home care workers beginning January 1, 2015.

Work still needs to be done to ensure that the rule will take full effect. For more information, consult the latest publication in PHI’s Value the Care! series, along with an implementation toolkit for states (pdf) produced by PHI with the National Employment Law Project.

Help us honor direct-care workers this Labor Day by ensuring that they are fairly compensated for their important work.

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