In a landmark labor decision, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled 8-1 to grant live-in caregivers the minimum wage. The July 9 decision ends a decades-old state exemption that allowed employers to pay a flat daily rate averaging less than hourly minimum wage.
In the original 2023 lawsuit, Bolina v. AssureCare Adult Home LLC, six plaintiffs testified to their grueling work conditions. Working as live-in staff, they took care of elderly and disabled patients for up to 24-hour shifts with no overtime pay or sick leave. The workers were forced to sleep in hallways and on floors. Many nights they would be woken up for emergencies. All for $4 to $6 per hour — less than a third of the 2023 state minimum wage of $15.74.
Represented by the legal nonprofit Fair Work Center, they sued AssureCare in King County Superior Court for labor rights violations. They won on summary judgment, but the case was passed to the Washington State Supreme Court to examine the minimum wage exemption. Three years later, the workers prevailed.
“Because six workers refused to accept their harmful conditions as the status quo, they have helped transform labor standards for thousands of caregivers. That is the power of workers coming together to demand respect and dignity,” Danielle Alvarado, executive director of Fair Work Center, told the Labor Press.
Caregivers across Washington will be immediately eligible for the state’s minimum wage, which has climbed since 2023 to $17.13. The case returns to King County Superior Court to determine whether these six plaintiffs will receive retroactive pay or other compensation.
Wow Does this mean even if its your own DDA/DDS Adult DISABLED CHILD like whos been in Psychiatric facilities on & off their entire lives? My son is almost 31 & has been diagnosed Schitzoaffective Manic Mixed Bipolar Mania & Depressive Co occuring episodes SEVERE MOOD & PANIC DISORERS AGORAPHOBIA HYPERVIGILANCE OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANCE DISORDER OCD PTSD SAD SADD ADD ADHD??
He’s usually fine on meds but has been violent to me when hes having bipolar episodes could & when its flashbacks from him being bullied psychotic psychosic manic depressive episode??? im his mom hes attacked me before ruminating on people bulling him in past. Then hes sent to 14 Day ITA CRISIS PSYCHOTIC EPISODE VISIT HELD 14 DAYS IN ITA COURT MANY TIMES. HES ATTACKED ME ENDED UP NOT RESTORABLE IN 14 DAYS NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY!!
Took care of my blind mother for 17 years. Never paid anything.
Care givers need to make enough to support them selves if they have there own home they still pay rent in your wrong is state wants to not pay you will see nobody’s making it on the wages given take care of them yourself state case managers / workers are using state paid for vehicles gas, maintiance they are taking these vehicles to there homes .. not right slash that take those cars they make more than enough to maintain there own cars waist money specially small towns like tri-Cities, washington
Does this apply to people.that live with family and does caregiving?