I assist a lady with Parkinson's. I do housework I assist her mostly, her husband assists her to bathroom but if he is gone I do. I get up get her coffee make both of them lunch I check in to see how she is doing if he is going to be gone all day. If he is home I am outside doing lawn or inside doing house cleaning I go in everyday at 5 to make her a drink. Then I cook them both dinner clean, I mop, I vacuum I do whatever she needs. I feed the cat the dog. I am pretty much a stay at home mom without the kids. The husband though is very active and can do everything he just has me around for when he is not here or to do the things he doesn't want to do such as her hair and makeup ect. I'm a little assistant. But I have to be here everyday of the month or he deducts my pay. Is that fair? I don't think it is. I also think I should be getting more money but I don't know how to calculate that room and board. And my hours I need help with this. I don't think I'm being treated fairly but I need to have proof of everything and prices so it's presentable to him and he doesn't over talk me. He is a smart man and he is cheap, he doesn't like to spend money. Also I am getting paid under the table and I don't like to work for free especially if it's not being recorded. So what I'm asking is if this is fair and how could I make it fair to him? How do I make a payment list how much things are worth caretaker going for? How much is the dollar amount is room and board?
You should go on the department of labor's website and do the research on what legal employment looks like. It also tells what wages should be and what value is placed on benefits, like a room. It specifically states what the requirements are to ensure that you are not being exploited, like how many hours you can legally be worked.
Where I live you can rent a room for 300.00 a month, you can get an entire apartment for 700.00, utilities run about 200.00 (for the apartment) and a single person can eat for 60.00 weekly. Obviously you would pay more rent for an upscale apartment, but you would have your own place. I think that 700.00 a month for a room is unrealistic.
It is against the law to require someone to work 24/7/365. It doesn't matter how smart he is, he is using you and basically has you imprisoned and enslaved.
If you have no caregiver contract you can be out of a job, out of a home and penniless if he decides that you are no longer needed. You should get all of your information and line up a plan in case he decides to fire you. Just a heads up.
Do you eat your meals with them or are you treated like the servant? Do they allow you to eat whatever you want and do they purchase your food items and food choices? Are you able to set in the tv room with them or ate you relegated to your room? Do you have your own bathroom? Are you able to leave at all? Please come back and provide this info, you will get better help by providing more information.
Let's see, you make $500 a month, so that comes down to $16.66 per day. Now divide how hours per day. That's like spare change in someone's pocket. Yes, you have your own room, but that is for the couple's benefit so that you are there around the clock when needed.
food would be bout $100 per week for one person. So, I figure that room and board is worth about $1250 per month.
now, are you on call during the evening hours? If yes, then those hours are $25 per hour, How many hours a week do you work.? Day time usually goes for about $20 per hour.
so, let’s figure you are working 6 hours a day....but on call every day. So..6X7 is 42. So that is 42 X$20. Or $840 per week...or $3780 per month. Minus the $1250 cost of room and board. Yeah...you are being cheat out of more than $2500 per month. Plus..you should have social security being paid, insurance, etc being paid. Also, if they are not paying the withholding taxes...you aren’t covered by unemployment or workers compensation. This is a VERY unfair situation you are in.
you are being deducted for a day off? Wow. Get out of there and get a real job. You are sacrificing yourself for these people, Demand proper pay and tax withholding.....or leave.
even if you were working for an agency...you would still get $12 per hour....or $2270 a month. AND you would likely make more because you have experience.