I started a live-in job 3 wks ago and just found out yesterday that the agency I work for is charging me $50 every day for "boarding fees."

Your labor board should be able to answer your question.

We aren't the government of New Jersey, but I would check on their rules for employment of this type were I you with the labor boards involved. The other answer is to quit this job and find another. You may not be able to do it through an agency but whereEVER you DO do it you need an elder law attorney involved to draw up a "shared living expenses contract or whatever". I would say in general this idea of living in does NOT work out for the most part.

Each state probably has its own governing body that monitors and regulates Home Health Agencies for licensing.

In my state (MN):

https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/regulation/hhamedicare/index.html

Do an internet search for your home state. This is who I would contact and/or complain to, since your arrangement sounds fishy.

If you should be paying ‘boarding fees’ (and I don’t think you should), they should go to the person you are caring for who owns or rents the house. You are not ‘boarding’ with the agency, if anything you are boarding with the person you are caring for. I strongly doubt that the agency is paying the ‘boarding fees’ over to them.

What I don’t know is a foolproof way to address this. However first ask the person you are caring for if they know anything about it – that the agency is charging you as well as charging them. If they don’t, they should be objecting to the agency. If this has been arranged by a family member, talk to them along the same lines. If you tell them that you will quit if this continues, and they are getting on well with you, they may decide to change agencies.

Then perhaps the Ombudsman? Then perhaps lawyer? The law may have teeth if you were not told about this when you signed up with the agency. Certainly quit and find another agency if you get nowhere. To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if this was a scam from someone in their accounts department.

Did you sign a contract? I'm pretty sure any business can do just about anything if you signed a contract and agreed to it.

That seems bizarre to me but I really have no experience. Call some other agencies and see what their policy is.

I would contact a lawyer and ask that question. Because they are charging the client a ton for you being a live in. Do they have coverage for you to get sleep, or if you got sick?

Quit.