Guidelines Issued By Department Of Labor For Employing Home Care Workers

The Fair Labor Standards Act has very strict wage and hour requirements for people who employ a home care worker who provides services for a family member with disabilities. “These requirements changed as of January 1, 2016, and under the new rules, most home care workers must be paid at least federal minimum wage, and overtime.”  There is a guide provided by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) called Paying Minimum Wage and Overtime to Home Care Workers: A Guide for Consumers and Their Families to the Fair Labor Standards Act that offers practical advice to families about compensating home care workers.  Caregivers are not independent contractors and families who hire them are subject to the requirements of federal labor law. 

See Department of Labor Issues Guide for Employing Home Care Workers, Special Needs Answers, April 5, 2016.