BILL ANALYSIS Ó Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations William W. Monning, Chair Date of Hearing: June 26, 2013 2013-2014 Regular Session Consultant: Alma Perez Fiscal:Yes Urgency: No Bill No: AB 241 Author: Ammiano As Introduced/Amended: May 24, 2013 SUBJECT Domestic work employees: labor standards KEY ISSUE Should the Legislature extend existing employment rights and protections to domestic work employees, such 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, overtime compensation and duty-free meal and rest periods? ANALYSIS Under existing law , it is the duty of the Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC), within the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), to ascertain the wages, hours and working conditions of employees in the state and promulgate rules, regulations and orders to ensure that employers comply with those provisions of law. (Labor Code §1173) Under existing law, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the Office of the Labor Commissioner were established to adjudicate wage claims, investigate discrimination and public works complaints, and enforce Labor Code statutes and Industrial Welfare Commission orders. Existing law, for overtime compensation (Labor Code §510): With certain exceptions, defines a day's work as eight hours of labor. Any additional hours worked must be compensated with the payment of overtime, as follows: § Any work in excess of eight hours in one workday, any work in excess of 40 hours in any one workweek, and the first eight hours worked on the seventh day of work in any one workweek shall be compensated at the rate of no less than one and one-half times the regular rate of pay for an employee; § Any work in excess of 12 hours in one day shall be compensated at the rate of no less than twice the regular rate of pay for an employee; § Any work in excess of eight hours on any seventh day of a workweek shall be compensated at the rate of no less than twice the regular rate of pay of an employee. Existing law, for meal and rest periods (Labor Code §512): Requires, with certain exemptions, that all employees receive a meal break of 30 minutes before the start of the 5th hour of work, unless the work period is no more than six hours and both the employer and employee choose to waive the meal period by mutual consent. Requires that if the work period is more than ten hours, a second meal period of 30 minutes must also be granted to an employee. This second meal period can be waived by the mutual consent, but only if the work period is no more than 12 hours, and the first meal period was not waived. Requires that employers provide non-exempt employees with rest breaks of 10 minutes for every four hours worked. Provides that if an employer fails to provide a duty-free meal or rest period, the employer must give the employee one hour of additional premium wages at the employee's regular rate of compensation for each workday that a meal period was not provided. (Labor Code §226.7) Existing Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders , allow for Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 2 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations "on-duty" meal periods where the employee is not relieved of work responsibilities, but is allowed to eat while they work. An on-duty meal period is permitted only when the nature of the work prevents an employee from being completely relieved of work. All on-duty meal period agreements must be in writing, and the employee may revoke the on- duty meal period agreement at any time . This Bill would enact the "Domestic Worker Bill of Rights" to provide protections and regulate the wages, hours, and working conditions of domestic work employees, as defined. Specifically, this bill would: 1) Provide the following definitions, among others: a. "Domestic work" means services related to the care of persons in private households or maintenance of private households or their premises, including childcare providers, caregivers of the disabled, sick, convalescing, or elderly persons, house cleaners, housekeepers, maids and other household occupations. b. "Domestic work employee" means an individual who performs domestic work (including live-in domestic work employees and personal attendants). However, the term does not include (thereby exempting from the requirements of the bill): § In-Home Supportive Services program employees; § Specified family members; § A babysitter under 18 years of age; § A person employed as a casual babysitter of a minor working not more than six hours per week; § A person employed by a licensed health facility; § A person employed by an organization vendored or contracted through a regional center or the State Department of Development Services, Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 3 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations as specified, to provide services and support for persons with development disabilities; and § A person who provides child care, as specified, if the parent or guardian of the child receives child care and development services pursuant to any program authorized under the Child Care and Development Services Act or the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Act. a. "Live-in domestic work employee" means an employee who resides in the employer's household at least five days per week and has sleep accommodations. b. "Personal attendant" means a person employed by a private or third-party to supervise, feed, or dress a person who, by reason of advanced age, physical disability, or mental deficiency, needs supervision. However, status as a personal attendant applies only if this work does not exceed 20% of the total weekly hours worked. c. "Domestic work employer" means a person who (including through the services of a third-party employer) employs or exercises control over the wages, hours or working conditions of a domestic work employee, and excludes the following: § The State of California or an individual receiving domestic work services through the IHSS program or who is eligible for that program based on his or her income. § An employment agency that operates solely to procure, offer, refer, provide, or attempt to provide work to domestic workers, as specified. § A licensed health facility. 1) Establish specific employment rights for domestic work employees that includes: a. A right to overtime compensation as provided under existing law; Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 4 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations b. Rights to existing meal and rest period requirements for personal attendants; c. 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep for a domestic work employee who is a live-in or is required to be on duty for 24 consecutive hours or more, except in an emergency any time worked constitutes hours worked. d. Specifying that for a personal attendant accompanying a person with a disability when traveling out of town, time spent with the person in transit and attending to or carrying out the directives of the person constitutes hours worked, as specified. e. A domestic work employee required to sleep in the private household of his/her employer must be provided with a separate room that is a decent and sanitary sleeping accommodation, and shall not be required to share a bed. f. Permitting a domestic work employee who works five or more hours a day to choose the food he/she eats and to prepare his/her own at the job site's kitchen. Except for households with religious, dietary or health related restrictions. 2) Provide that these provisions shall be enforced by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). 3) Provide for administrative or civil enforcement of these provisions, as specified, including remedies and attorney's fees and costs to prevailing domestic work employees. 4) Make several legislative findings and declarations regarding domestic workers. COMMENTS 1. Background on Domestic Workers: Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 5 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations "Domestic workers" or "household workers" are generally comprised of housekeepers, nannies and caregivers of children and others, including the disabled and elderly, who work in private households to care for the health, safety and well-being of those under their care. One useful analysis includes the following overview of the treatment of domestic workers under California law: "In California, 'all persons employed in household occupations, whether paid on a time, piece rate, commission, or other basis' are entitled to be paid the state minimum wage. Live-in domestic workers cannot be charged for food or housing without a voluntary, written agreement. Like its federal counterpart, California wage and hour laws exclude personal attendants. However, personal attendants, whether live-in or not, are entitled to the California minimum wage if they spend more than twenty percent of their time doing other housework. Non-live-in domestic workers are entitled to overtime pay under California law under the same conditions as under federal law; however, in California such workers are also entitled to rest periods. Ten minute rest periods and a thirty minute meal period are considered on-duty and counted as time worked, unless the employee is relieved of all duty during the meal period. Live-in domestic workers are entitled to overtime only if they work more than nine hours in a workday or if they work on the sixth or seventh workday. These workers must be given at least 12 consecutive off-duty hours on any workday. Work during off duty time is compensable as overtime. Personal attendants are not entitled to meal breaks or rest breaks. All domestic workers in California are entitled to be free from sexual harassment. California employment and labor law provides most domestic workers with minimum wages and maximum hours, workers' compensation for injuries on the job, and protection from sexual harassment. However, domestic workers in California are left without many of the Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 6 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations basic legal protections afforded to other workers in this state." ("Left Out: Assessing the Rights of Migrant Domestic Workers in the U.S., Seeking Alternatives," Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, November 2003) 2. Need for this bill? Though rights and protections are relatively broad in California, in general, domestic workers are largely excluded from some of the more basic protections afforded to other workers under state and federal law, including the rights to overtime wages, meal and rest period rights and safe and healthy working conditions. Domestic workers may suffer discrimination, since California's Fair Employment and Housing Act only prohibits employers with five or more employees from discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, pregnancy, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or on the basis of an English only policy. California occupational safety and health law excludes 'household domestic service.' The author and advocates contend that domestic workers often labor under harsh conditions, work long hours for low wages without benefits or job security, and face termination without notice or severance pay leaving many suddenly without income. According to proponents, in the worst cases domestic workers are verbally and physically abused or sexually assaulted, and stripped of their privacy and dignity. The author cites a 2013 report by the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Home Truths: Domestic Workers in California, which surveyed 631 domestic workers in four metropolitan areas in the state, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose. The report found that 25% of domestic workers are paid below CA's minimum wage; less than 1% receives retirement or pension benefits; only 6% work for employers who pay into Social Security; just 1% work for employers who pay into workers' compensation; and only 2% receive employer-provided health insurance coverage. According to proponents, this bill is needed to set industry-wide standards that will protect domestic workers, Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 7 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations create greater stability in the industry and improve the quality of care for Californians. This bill would enact the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights to regulate the wages, hours, and working conditions of domestic work employees, as defined. 3. "Personal Attendants" under the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders In 1986, the Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) adopted a complete exemption from the overtime provisions and other requirements of the Wage Orders for individuals employed as "personal attendants." The minimum wage exemption was eliminated on January 1, 2001 thereby entitling "personal attendants" to the state minimum wage for all hours worked. However, as discussed below, an overtime exemption continues to exist for "personal attendants" under IWC Wage Order 15. IWC Wage Order 15 IWC Wage Order 15 applies to Household Occupations which is defined as all services related to the care of persons or maintenance of a private household or its premises by an employee of a private householder. Under Wage Order 15, "personal attendants" are defined as including: "babysitters and means any person employed by a private householder or by any third party employer recognized in the health care industry to work in a private household, to supervise, feed, or dress a child or person who by reason of advanced age, physical disability, or mental deficiency needs supervision." "Personal attendants" are completely exempt from the general overtime requirements, meal and rest break requirements and other provisions of Wage Order 15. Therefore, "personal attendants" are only required to be paid straight-time for all hours worked, regardless of whether they work more than eight hours in a day or 40 hours in a week. Wage Order 15 also specifies that the status of "personal attendant" shall apply when no significant amount of work Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 8 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations other than the foregoing is required. A recent opinion letter issued by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (November 23, 2005. Donna M. Dell, State Labor Commissioner & Chief) that sought to clarify the definition of "personal attendants" under Wage Order 15 stated that, "?any general housekeeping duties performed should not exceed 20% of the weekly working time spent by the personal attendant to maintain his or her exemption under IWC Wage Order 15." Wage Order 15 also has specific provisions related to "live-in" household employees who are not personal attendants. First, Wage Order 15 specifies that a live-in employee shall have at least 12 consecutive hours free of duty during each workday of 24 hours, and the total span of hours for a workday shall be no more than 12 hours. Wage Order 15 also specifies that a live-in employee shall have at least three hours free of duty during the 12 hour span of work. Finally, a live-in employee who works during scheduled off-duty hours or during the 12 consecutive off-duty hours is entitled to overtime for such hours. The net result is that a live-in employee essentially works a nine hour day and is entitled to overtime for any hours worked beyond that. However, as discussed above, an employee who is a "personal attendant" is completely exempt from overtime under Wage Order 15. 4. Federal Exemption for "Companions" It may also be useful to point out the federal exemption for "companions" under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which is much broader than the exemption under state law. The FLSA provides an exemption to minimum wage and overtime requirements for individuals employed in domestic service employment to provide babysitting services on a casual basis, or to provide companionship services for individuals who are unable to care for themselves because of age or infirmity. Companion services include those services which provide fellowship, care and protection for a person who, because of advanced age or physical or mental infirmity, cannot care for his or her own needs. It does not include services provided by trained personnel, such as a registered nurse or a Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 9 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations practical nurse. FLSA regulations state that companionship services may include household work related to the care of the aged or infirm person such as meal preparation, bed making, washing clothes, and other similar services. Companions may perform general household work as long as such work is incidental and does not exceed 20 percent of the total weekly hours worked. Household work related to the care of the individual is not counted towards this 20 percent limitation. On December 27, 2011, the federal government (through the U.S. Department of Labor) proposed key changes to the regulations governing "companions." Among other things, the proposed changes would provide that: (1) third party employers of domestic workers who care for elderly and those with disabilities in a private household would now be covered by federal weekly overtime requirements; and (2) the definition of companionship services would be significantly narrowed such that far fewer caregivers for the elderly and people with disabilities would qualify as companions exempt from minimum wage and overtime. Live-in caregivers hired directly by the household would continue to be exempt from overtime as live-in employees, but would be entitled to minimum wage if they fall outside the narrowed companion exemption. On February 24, 2012, the Department published a notice to extend the comment period to March 12, 2012, because of requests received to extend the period for filing public comments and the Department's desire to obtain as much information about its proposals as possible. These proposed regulation changes are still pending. 5. New York State Legislation On July 1, 2010, the New York State Legislature passed the first-in-the-nation domestic worker "bill of rights." The bill [A. 1470B (Wright)/S.2311-E (Savino)] was signed by Governor Paterson on August 31, 2010 and went into effect on November 29, 2010. Among other things, the New York statute: Establishes an eight hour workday and overtime after Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 10 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations 40 hours a week for live-out domestic workers (44 hours for live-in domestic workers). Provides for one day of rest each calendar week. Provides for three paid days off after one year of employment. Establishes protection against workplace discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status and domestic violence victim status. Establishes protection against sexual harassment by the employer. However, it should be noted that under the New York legislation the term "domestic worker" does not include any individual (a) working on a casual basis, (b) who is engaged in providing companionship services, as defined by the FLSA (discussed above), and who is employed by an employer or agency other than the family or household using his or her services, or (c) who is a relative through blood, marriage or adoption, as defined. In addition, under the New York legislation, the term "employer" does not include any employer with fewer than four persons in his or her employ. 6. Proponent Arguments : According to the author, in California, there are around 200,000 domestic workers who serve as housekeepers, nannies, and caregivers in private homes. The author argues that the role of domestic workers is essential to California as it enables others to participate in the workforce. Without these domestic workers our economy would suffer and many Californians would be forced to forgo their own jobs to address their household needs. However, the author contends, despite the importance of their work, domestic workers have historically received wages well below the poverty line and continue to be excluded from some of the most fundamental labor protections other Californian workers enjoy. Proponents argue that current laws and exclusions are complex, leaving employers and workers without any clear guidelines. The author notes that domestic workers are among the most isolated and vulnerable workforce in the state. The unique Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 11 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations nature of their work requires protections to prevent abuse and mistreatment from occurring behind closed doors, out of the public eye. Therefore, the author argues, this bill provides domestic workers with industry-specific protections to use kitchen facilities and cook their own food, and creates standards for sleep, meal and rest periods, overtime and paid vacations. Even domestic workers employed by agencies labor in individual homes and deserve equal rights and labor protections. Similarly, proponents argue that this bill seeks to provide industry-wide standards so that they can provide uniform quality care to the individuals and homes with which they are entrusted. They believe this uniformity will increase the quality of care and standardize the industry. Finally, proponents state that domestic workers are the bedrock of our society - they do the work that makes all other work possible. This bill will not only protect this significant and valuable workforce, but also will invest in the wellbeing of Californian's families and homes. 7. Opponent Arguments : Opponents, including the California Association for Health Services at Home and numerous individual home care companies and individuals, argue that this bill would significantly impact their ability to provide affordable care to elderly clients or clients with disabilities and would make it very difficult to provide care to those needing around the clock assistance. They argue that seniors and other frail Californians depend on private home care services to stay healthy and in their homes and to avoid institutionalization. Opponents contend that the homecare industry simply cannot absorb the additional increased labor costs resulting from this bill and would make live-in care completely unaffordable. Opponents contend that live-in rates would more than double - a cost that clients clearly will not pay when they can receive the same services from the "underground economy" and pay cash for a fraction of the cost. The CA Chamber of Commerce states that the wage and hour Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 12 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations burden this bill creates on individual homeowners as well as third-party employers is significant, and unprecedented. Failure to comply with any of the requirements in the bill would subject the homeowner or third-party employer to costly statutory penalties and litigation, including an employee's right to attorneys' fees. They argue that, as demonstrated by the overwhelming number of employment lawsuits filed on a daily basis, sophisticated businesses, with professional human resources staff and employment attorneys, struggle with the proper implementation of the onerous California-only wage and hour requirements. This bill, they believe, would expand this burden onto individual homeowners, who are simply seeking to hire assistance in the care for their children or elderly loved ones. According to the Chamber, the detrimental impact of this potential liability will create one of two problems: (1) discourage any homeowner from retaining the services of 'domestic work employees,' thereby increasing the unemployment rate in California; or (2) force such homeowners and third-party employers to enter into the underground economy, as compliance with these requirements would simply be too costly. Either scenario, they argue, will only serve to further harm California's economy, and create additional financial problems than those already plaguing the state. Finally, opponents note that Governor Brown vetoed similar legislation last year over the "economic and human impact on the disabled or elderly persons and their families." [See veto message of AB 889 below.] 8. Prior Legislation : AB 889 (Ammiano) of 2011: Vetoed by the Governor AB 889, as originally introduced, was almost identical to this bill. However, AB 889 was subsequently amended to require the Department of Industrial Relations to adopt regulations governing specified working conditions of domestic work employees. AB 889 was vetoed by Governor Brown, who stated the following in his veto message: "Domestic workers work in the homes of ill, elderly or Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 13 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations disabled people. They often share duties and responsibilities with the family and friends of the patient-employer. Those employed in this noble endeavor, like anyone who works for a living, deserve fair pay and safe working conditions. Seeking to improve the circumstances of these workers however, raises a number of unanswered questions. What will be the economic and human impact on the disabled or elderly person and their family of requiring overtime, rest and meal periods for attendants who provide 24 hour care? What would be the additional costs and what is the financial capacity of those taking care of loved ones in the last years of life? Will it increase costs to the point of forcing people out of their homes and into licensed institutions? Will there be fewer jobs for domestic workers? Will the available jobs be for fewer hours? Will they be less flexible? What will be the impact of the looming federal policies in this area? How would the state actually enforce the new work rules in the privacy of people's homes? The bill calls for these questions to be studied by the state Department of Industrial Relations and for the department to simultaneously issue new regulations to provide overtime, meal, rest break and sleep periods for domestic workers. In the face of consequences both unknown and unintended, I find it more prudent to do the studies before considering an untested legal regime for those that work in our homes. Finally, a drafting error leaves most In Home Supportive Service (IHSS) workers subject to this measure - - resulting in costs to the state of over $200 million per year. This could require cuts in wages, reduced hours of care and other reductions to those served by IHSS workers." HR 11 (Ammiano and V.M. Perez) of 2011: Adopted This resolution recognizes March 30th as International Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 14 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations Domestic Workers' Day. ACR 163 (V.M. Perez) of 2010: Res. Chapter 119. Statutes of 2010 This resolution encourages greater protections in federal and state law for domestic workers. AB 2536 (Montanez) of 2006: Vetoed by the Governor AB 2536 would have eliminated the overtime exemption under California law for most "personal attendants." There was significant opposition, and the bill was subsequently narrowed to generally apply only to nannies. ACR 141 (Cedillo) of 2000: Res. Chapter 37, Statutes of 2000 This resolution declares each March 30 to be Domestic Worker Appreciation Day in recognition of all domestic workers for their hard work and dedication, their contribution to the stability and well-being of the Californian family household, and their often overlooked contributions to California's economy. SUPPORT California Domestic Workers Coalition (Sponsor) American Civil Liberties Union of California Anakbayan Silicon Valley Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern CA Asian Pacific Environmental Network Babae San Francisco California Communities United Institute California Immigrant Policy Center California Nurses Association California Women's Agenda Center for Transformative Change Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy Centro Laboral de Graton Chinese Progressive Association Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 15 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth Community United Against Violence Dignidad Rebelde Dolores Street Community Services East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy East Bay Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice End DV Counseling and Consulting Filipino Advocates for Justice Filipino Migrant Center Forward Together GABRIELA USA Gray Panthers of San Francisco Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice Labor Project for Working Families Latino Union of Chicago Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition Mujeres Unidas y Activas National Alliance for Filipino Concerns National Domestic Workers Alliance Oakland Rising Out4Immigration People Organized to Win Employment Rights Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California Racial Justice Allies of Sonoma County SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West Service, Immigrant Rights & Education Network Sisters of GABRIELA, Awaken! Temple Hashem Training Occupational Development Educating Communities Transnational Institute for Grassroots Research and Action Union Salvadorena de Estudiantes Universitarios United Educators of San Francisco Young Workers United OPPOSITION 24hr Home Care Addus HealthCare Alta Home Care Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 16 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations At Home Nursing Care California Association for Health Services at Home California Chamber of Commerce Care Plus Home Care Caring Solutions ComForcare Senior Services Comfort Keepers of Encino Comfort Keepers of Lomita Comfort Keepers of Orange Comfort Keepers of San Diego Craig Cares DialMED Home Care Elder Care Guides Hired Hands Inc. Home Care Association of America-Northern California Chapter Homecare California, Inc. Home Instead Senior Care - Monrovia Home Instead Senior Care - Placentia Home Instead - Santa Barbara Independent Nurse Consulting LivHOME Inc. Matched Care Givers Continuous Care Maxim Companion Services Medical Care Professionals Orange Chamber of Commerce Provident Care Res Care HomeCare Right at Home of Elk Grove Right at Home of Rancho Mirage Right at Home of San Diego Right at Home of Sonoma County Right at Home of Ventura County Senior Helpers-Caring In Home Companions The Arc of California United Cerebral Palsy California Collaboration Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services - San Ramon Visiting Angels Northeast Los Angeles and the West San Fernando Valley Visiting Angels Senior Homecare - Glendale Young at Heart Family Services 54-individuals Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 17 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations Hearing Date: June 26, 2013 AB 241 Consultant: Alma Perez Page 18 Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations