With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The Nanny State: Your Babysitter's Rights to Minimum Wage, Overtime, and Paid Vacation
Nannies, babysitters and housekeepers could get treated more like other workers who work outside the home under a bill being proposed by state legislators.
That has drawn howls of protest from critics of the nanny state and others who say it's just not practical, given the nature of domestic work.
Officially, the bill is called the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act, but unofficially it's being called the babysitter bill.
The bill (AB 889) would mandate that domestic workers get meal breaks, paid vacation time, minimum wage, overtime and workers compensation. And the bill would also give workers more leverage to sue their employers, if they don't get those benefits.
Support for LAist comes from
There are exceptions for the teenagers or relatives, who get hired (or coerced!) into babysitting when mom and dad need a date night out, but critics who like to decry "nanny state" legislation aren't too happy with the bill.
"I'm just shaking my head at the whole thought that a simple entry-level business transaction of parents hiring the baby sitter down the block or around corner for a couple of hours is now a gigantic, bureaucratic legalistic business proposition," Republican state senator Sen. Doug LaMalfa toldThe Record Searchlight. "In the good old days it's a cash proposition."
Others worry that mandating breaks and meals for domestic workers means that technically no one is watching junior for two 10-minute breaks and one 30-minute lunch every day.
Democrat supporters call ita way to end "the historic exclusion of domestic workers from labor protections afforded to workers in other industries."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist