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I give 2 days off per week. Tuesday and Wednesday usually. Once a month Saturday and Sunday. After one year of work I give two weeks paid vacation. After five years I give three weeks paid vacation. I do not give unpaid time off unless it is a true emergency situation. I expect full 8 hour work days. 1/2 hour for lunch. One 15 minute break in the morning and one 15 minute break in the afternoon. I generally do not have overtime hours, but if overtime is necessary, I pay time and a half over 40 hours. They get major holidays off. I withhold taxes and SS. I pay health insurance for my housekeeper. My housekeeper does live in my house, but has a small apartment on the property. She had worked for my husband for 12 years before we married and stayed with me after he died. If I continue to need an aide and she stays for six months I will provide health insurance for her. I contribute to a retirement account for my housekeeper as well.

I have a home care aide that works varied hours, but the same rules apply. She has her own apartment in town. If someone is working at meal time, they are welcome to eat what is prepared. Otherwise, they can bring their lunch. I don't expect or want home health aide cooking in my kitchen. I'm very picky about my kitchen. Only me, the housekeeeper and my stepson and 3 grandchildren who live here use the kitchen.
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I worked through an agency and was paid $1 above minimum wage. I could NOT work more than 32 hrs per week or my company had to provide health insurance which they most assuredly DID NOT want to do.

I don't know if they even employed 'overnight CG's'--that alone would take you far above the 32 hr limit.

I have seen the CG industry get slightly better since I left it. The pay at my particular agency was almost insultingly low, my employers tipped me out, monthly to bring it up to a standard they felt I was worth. This was done out in the open (one of my client's sons was an atty) and so it was all aboveboard...and it did help me to feel like I had some value.

You are being seriously underpaid. And the fact you basically cannot leave, ever, is slavery! Even tho you state your client sleeps through the night, you obviously cannot leave her. So you're NEVER off the clock!
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BurntCaregiver Oct 2022
@Midkid

You're exactly right. That's how agencies always operate. They give just under full time (40 hours) so they don't have to offer any benefits.
I used to get the 32 hours a week then take fill-in assignments sometimes up to 50 and 60 hours a week. It didn't count as regular hours so I was still technically "part-time". It didn't count as overtime either.
That's why I went private care and worked for myself.
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what's a 'day off'?
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cw27519 Oct 2022
She said that there is not a day off, at all.
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Did you sign a contract with family? Are you working 24/7? First review the contract you signed.
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Cashew Oct 2022
If the contract states no days off...it is an illegal and invalid contract.
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CuriousCat876: It's not even feasible for an individual to perform for a duration of time without a break/time off. I hope that you can work out a satisfactory arrangement in the future for time off with your employer should you decide to stay on with the live in arrangement.
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You are getting $7.50/hour for your 24 hour days. The current minimum wage in Connecticut is $13.00/hour. At that rate you are only being paid for your daytime hours, even though you are on call at night. They probably feel that they are giving you room and board, so that counts for something.

Are your 2 weeks off (after a year) paid time off? If not, you have nothing to lose by quitting. I have never heard of anyone working 24/7 for months on end. It is long past time to renegotiate. Either you get days off (unpaid) on a regular basis or you work until you quit. They cannot do anything to you if you give notice. They cannot withhold wages or punish you in any way.

As suggested, make sure taxes are actually being paid on your account. Do you get quarterly statements? If not, demand this retroactively. If they are not paying taxes and SS into your account, get help fast to rectify this. Make sure you have a signed copy of your contract to prove they are responsible for withholding and paying those assessments.

You sound like you are an ethical and responsible person. If they want a good, long-term caregiver, they will work with you.
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BurntCaregiver Oct 2022
The current minimum wage in Connecticut is $14 an hour.
Live-in caregivers are not paid hourly. They are paid a set amount per week.
Free room and board is factored into their wages. It does not replace money wages but it is part of it and can be considered similar to getting tips like a waitress or a hairdresser. They don't get paid minimum wage either.
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