Illinois joins 23 other states in opposing rule change that could cut homecare workers pay

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Taricus Mackey and Loretta Thompson both know what it takes to take care of someone.

“You know, majority of our clients are people are not able to come out and speak for themselves. So we are being their voice,” Thompson said.

Taricus and Loretta are two of the 1,000s of homecare workers in Illinois.

They help seniors, individuals with disabilities and others live independently.

It’s an important job but a rule change by the Federal Department of Labor could soon slash homecare worker’s paychecks.

“These homecare workers, they see the federal government trying to roll back those protections. And why is it important for us to stand with them? It’s essentially, again, saying we see their work, we value their work,” Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Labor, Jason Keller, said.

The Trump Administration wants to do away with an Obama era rule that required homecare workers to be paid at least the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour.

The rule also guarantees overtime pay if it is required.

“If something bad happens right before my shift ends with that individual that you’re serving, then that worker has to choose between either not doing it for that individual or doing the work without the pay,” Keller said.

In Illinois, that potential rule change might not have the same effect.

The state’s minimum wage is much higher than the federal wage and state laws already guaranteed overtime.

So why join 23 other states in opposing the rule?

“When the federal government allows more and more employees to be paid, you know, below the minimum wage for the work or excludes more employees from basic protections, it can be a race to the bottom,” Keller said.

Keller said it goes beyond setting a standard.

When out of state talent is looking for a new home, or an in-state employee is thinking about leaving, he wants them to see that Illinois will have their backs.

“We are fighting for healthcare needs and fighting to show the state of Illinois we are one state. We are going to fight and we are going to stick up and be here,” Mackey said.