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Megank2018 Asked August 2020

I am a live in caregiver, I live rent free but pay all the rest of the bills and buy all the groceries. Is this wrong?

The family even will leave it for me to take care of farm animals and all the yard work. They well have me babysit as well to their child who is hard core behaviors. The Mother of the folks is 84 and has Dementia. Did I mention the only payment I get rent free. No money, no pay paying, electric, fuel for heat, garbage, not a darn dime. I have her 24 hrs day, I only get a day off if I say hey, could you watch your mom for a couple hours. Is this wrong or are they in the right?

KoreanDaughter Aug 2020
I don’t even think this is legal if it’s happening in the US.

You need an hourly rate established and how many hours you’re expected to work for that rate. Anything over that is overtime and not “required.” Even if you take some liberty and not charge 1.5x for overtime, that should also be discussed.

Also, what is or is not included in your duties should be specified. If your charge is the mother — then that’s that. They don’t get to tack on the kid just because you’ll be home anyway taking care of the mom.

Even if you got paid a measly $10 per hour, an 8-hour day is $80. You apparently work 30 days per month, which is $2,400. Unless you’re living in some 25,000sf mansion with a butler outside the room you get for free — very few rooms in the US would cost $2,400 in rent for a month (outside of NYC and SF).

Let them know we abolished slavery in 1865 and get the hell out of there!

gladimhere Aug 2020
Leave, contact a labor law attorney to start a law suit for unfair labor practices.

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elaine1962 Aug 2020
LEAVE!!!

Tothill Aug 2020
You are being treated as a slave. This comes up quite often here. Families think it is ok to hire someone to provide 24/7 care and only pay them with room and board.

It is illegal In most countries.

Find a real job. Also report your so called employer to your provincial or state labour standards office. You should be eligible for back wages.

BarbBrooklyn Aug 2020
Leave.

Find a caregiver agency and get a real job.

LoopyLoo Aug 2020
You need to leave. This is pretty much slavery.

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