Calif. Bill Would Mandate Minimum Wage & Breaks for Babysitters
- Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:12am by
Jessie Abrams
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Date night may be getting a little more complicated for couples with children in California.
If a labor protection bill passes in the state, parents may be required to pay their babysitters over the age of 18 minimum wage plus overtime, allow a 10-minute rest every four hours and a half-hour meal break after five hours, according to a report from ABC News. The bill would apply to all caregivers and domestic workers, including nannies, housekeepers and those who look after the elderly.
Courtesy ABC News
San Francisco Democrat Tom Ammiano said he authored bill AB 889 with the intention of extending labor protections for workers caring for the disabled and elderly, but other elected officials say the loose language allows the proposed legislation to apply to many more kinds of caretakers.
Under the bill, workers would get more than quick breathers or short lunch breaks. Caregivers who live in or work 24-hour shifts would gain the right to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, and those working more than five consecutive hours would be allowed to use their employers’ kitchens free of charge to cook their own food. The only exceptions written into AB 889 are for family members used as babysitters or caregivers.
“How will parents react when they find out they will be expected to provide workers’ compensation benefits, rest and meal breaks and paid vacation time for…babysitters?” Republican Sen. Doug LaMalfa asked in a written statement on Tuesday. “Dinner and a movie night may soon become much more complicated.”
Ammiano‘s office called LaMalfa’s comments “wild accusations” and said they were unjustified.
“The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights is not about babysitters,” Ammiano said in a statement on Wednesday. “It’s about extending the same basic labor protections that all other California workers already have to the 200,000 domestic workers who provide care to our disabled and elderly.”
Parents throughout California are voicing their opinions on Facebook.
“What about mandatory breaks for moms? or do you only get a break if you’re PAID to do it? Lame law!” (sic) wrote Jennifer Warren.
While some are just laughing, others say they think the law could introduce a safety issue, because they would be incentivized to hire a younger (less than 18-year-old) babysitter who may have less experience performing normal babysitting tasks such as picking kids up from school or taking them to the pool.
Here‘s ABC’s report on what‘s being nicknamed the ’Babysitter’s Bill.’
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Comments (124)
Velkro
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:58am“other elected officials say the loose language allows the proposed legislation to apply to many more kinds of caretaker”
That sentence says it all when ever I think about new laws. I always think that legislators never consider the unintended consequences of the bills they write. That is why they need to use language that can only be interpreted the way it is intended.
Report Post »kindling
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 11:29amI think law makers have way to much time and our money. I think we should get rid of all government seats and keep elected officials AT HOME and they can conference over the net. They have gotten so used to doing everything without public input it has to stop. If lobbiests have to go in and out of district offices of these law makers we will have a better idea who is getting their issues addressed instead of ours. KEEP THEM HOME, both state and federal elected officials. Think of all the money we would save if we didn’t have to support the second homes of all those that don’t go home much.
Report Post »Johnnyp1958
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:55amSay California here’s an idea, create a walking tax , anyone using public sidewalks should be taxed by the amount of steps they take. Here’s another, a sunlight user fee, anybody seen sitting or walking in the sun hit them up with a solar absorbing fee. A hair length tax , charge by the inch of hair that people have on their heads. Better yet why don’t you take away all private property of every resident in the state of California and call it community confiscation tax.
Report Post »GrumpyCat
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:58amYou forgot the air tax. Charge for breathing. Charge more for those who are exercising or breathing heavily as obviously they are rich and deserve to be soaked.
Report Post »sickntiredofliberals
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 11:00amCheck out Agenda 21. Property owners are loosing their rights,
Report Post »LIBSALWAYSLIE
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 11:09amInhale tax, exhale tax, urinating tax, pooping tax, existing tax. Libs a so brilliant, NOT!
Report Post »RabidPatriot
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 11:18amThe unintended consequences of this bill would be that thousands of Mexicans, legal and illegal, would become unemployed from their caregiver jobs. Because if you have to pay American wages, you might as well hire an American.
Report Post »bigfatslob
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 11:25amI live in Long Beach Ca. and the state taxes the city for using well (underground) water that the city uses when the city chooses not to buy water from the state aquaduct system. This is underground water on its way to the Pacific ocean and CALIFORNIA TAXES US FOR IT !
Report Post »commonsensesue
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 11:50amOMG…I love these! Just as absurd as the original story!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:17pmI wonder when Americans are going to realize that it will be a whole lot easier to just start shooting these politicians, than having to continue to be abused and robbed by them on a daily basis? There is a war coming in this country and nothing will stop it, because once you push people too far, they will stand up and react to it violently, when they feel all peaceful options are exhausted. This isn’t me advocating violence, just making an observation about human nature.
Report Post »zenjak
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:36pmRabid Patriot -
Maybe not. If illegal aliens are exempt from all U.S. laws, they shouldn’t have the breaks, right?
Report Post »sharone
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 2:28pmdon’t forget a pooping tax
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 3:17pmSo, sitters working 24 hours or more are entitled to 8-hours of uninterrupted sleep? Most mom’s will be jealous as they work much, much, more than this and rarely get 8-hours of sleep uninterrupted or otherwise.
Happy to say that my year here in Cal-hell-ifornia is almost over. We are moving in a couple of weeks! No more of these unrealistic, asinine, designed to make politicians rich, laws, regulations, and taxes- Whoo-hoo!
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 3:19pmI think we should just pay people to NOT work.Oh,…….wait a minute…….we already do ,do that…………nevermind.
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 3:47pmWell as usual California is trying to kill more jobs because there are no way, and rightly so, that they would have to give all those benefits just for getting a night out together or whatever. Sorry babysitters, thanks to California everyone of you can forget about making any money babysitting. They say that it isn’t meant for babysitters but as far as I can tell, it doesn’t rule them out.
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 5:13pmDam dam dam! They want to take away everything. My head is spinning. What about the teenager who babysits for pin money? Or the older adult who’ll watch kids for a mom who wants a night out?\
Report Post »What you‘re doing is taking away a chance to make a few bucks away from the people who are willing to do what they’ve always done
YOU IDIOT governmental agencies are skrewing all of us. Minimum wage keeps kids from mowing lawns for a few dollars, highschoolers from working several hours after school for extra money, mom & dad’s who want to work night hours for extra income. Let’s face it, not all people are competent enough for even min. wage, let alone more. That’s why some have to slop the pigs for extra money, because for some, this is all they can do for pay. No one’s gonna give them min. wages.
I see some mentally challenged people working menial jobs and as long as they are capable of reasonable thinking, I think it’s wonderful. Thank goodness they can get a job, as not everyone is willing to pay even min. wages to someone they have to keep an eye on constantly. So, in essence, what the government is doing is keeping some marginal people from getting a job & working because not that many are willing to pay extra pay for marginal people. Gov’t is skrewing the public.
RabidPatriot
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 6:18pm@zenjak
The chances of any California State, county or municipal government going after people for hiring illegals is very slim. If those same people don’t give benefits to those same illegals, the full weight of the government will be on the necks of those employers. California is famous for ignoring laws that do not conform to its hard left-wing agenda and for spending large amounts of tax-payer money to prosecute minor infractions against those that do not conform to their ideology.
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 6:36amcalifornia politicos are nuts as are the voters. who do they think is going to obey such a stupid law. jeez these people even want to take the few bucks a kid can earn looking after a child for a few hours.
Report Post »capitalismrocks
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:51amBabysitters get the added benefits of watching tv, having food left for them, perhaps use of the phone, and internet — these are all added perks, sorry min. wage doesn’t apply… further – many babysitters are the local neighborhood teens, some aren’t even old enough for a work card, and therefor aren’t even entitled to min. wage…
Are they going to be filing a 1099 or W2 ?!?!? Are the babysitters going to pay taxes on their “earnings” — again, more stupidity from a govt that is just reaching way too far inside of our lives, GET OUT !!!
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:07pmI think it’s stupid too, but read it, it says 18 and over. It does not apply to kids or family members. If this were to pass, they should attach an e-verify requirement with a $20,000 fine for hiring an illegal worker.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:51amThis would mean a couple going out to dinner and a movie would have to hire 2 babysitter – an extra one to provide the breaks and dinner break for the first. If this law passes, it will result in people going out less frequently which will hurt all the places that provide entertainment where you wouldn’t want to take children. Another possiblit is that it will mean more kids will go to day care facilities, and then the unions can try to unionize them (ifthey aren’t already) and get more dues to funnel to the Democrats and the union leaders.
Report Post »ProudToBeAnInfidel
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:49amI can see it now……. James Hoffa on the stump, belittling the working man for wanting a night out with the wife….. err, belittling the rich man for not paying the college students tuition while she watches the kids…….
Report Post »slr4528
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:49amMore jobs for the 18 and under kids and illegal imigrants.
Report Post »Libertarian B 4 Libertarians Were Cool
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:46amCan’t we cut Cali off and let it float out in the Pacific?
Report Post »Amateur_Radio_Operator
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:49amHopefully the ‘Big One’ (earthquake) will take care of that for us.
But to the point… If the babysitter gets a break, who is watching the kids? Oh, wait…the TV.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:55amand just how, pray tell, will a “babysitter” “Take a break”?
please enlighten me on how they are going to leave the child for 15 minutes, etc… sorry babysitters. how about if you REALLY didn’t want to be a babysitter, then don’t do it… you enter these jobs and start demanding everything in the world out of them. they are BABYSITTER jobs. are you kidding me? go work at a daycare if you want all these demands… babysitters do not work ALL DAY. they babysit. that means watch children for a couple – few hours… work at a DAYCARE fool….
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:58amHAHA! You folks are so funny!
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 5:17pmJust wait. The big earthquake is supposed to take at least 1/2 the state out to the ocean.
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 5:45pmWell the article says that after 4 hours the babysitter should have a 10 minute break. So, I have to assume that in order to bypass hiring two babysitters, the parents have to come home for 10 minutes once they have been out for four hours. I don’t ever recall dinner and a moving taking more than four hours.
It does not make much sense though because Mom‘s don’t get a 10 minute break after four hours, nor do we expect one. But, why the differential treatment?
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:44amAnd then how long until the state mandates workplace safety laws be applied, and unemployment payments to the system for the ‘workers’? How about no-smoking laws, where smoking isn’t allowed in the workplace/your own home?
The biggest problem with liberalism, which is part of its inherent insanity, in that it never stops trying to ‘improve the quality of life’. And it fails every time.
Report Post »Trance
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:55amYou’re forgetting about handicap access in your home. You can’t discriminate against people just because they are wheelchair bound, or are blind!
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:55amAnd, will the babysitter be required to report those self-employed earnings, file a tax return and pay taxes on that income??
Report Post »GulfPeg
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:44amYes, the Democrats are going to ruin this too! Everything they touch gets ruined!
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:43amCommunism/communism/Socialism/socialism = totalitarianism.
The government controls every aspect of your life.
Report Post »Centralsville
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:40amCalifornia is dead.
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:40amThis is a rediculous bill and many of us are doing our best to see that it doesn’t pass.
Report Post »dthomps6
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:48amWhy don’t you guys split off from the gay section? San Fran to LA and the coast in between can be one state and the rest will be the other. You have the idiots in 1% of the land controlling the smarter people in the other 99%. It makes no sense to stay together.
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 11:00amBelieve me, we are doing our best to split up.
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:14pmAH, the California State Legislature………just when you think they cannot do anything more stupid than they have already done…………they come up with something like this!!
Report Post »Briggston
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:39amCongratulations California. You have once again proven evolution from lower life forms originated in the LA Valley. You have just killed another chance for employment of people with your quest for the idiotic Utopian society.Teenagers guess what this means less people are going to hire you because now like minimum wage. You are demanding more pay than your worth. As a result those of us who live on tight budgets are going to wait till our own kids are old enough to watch their older siblings and you will still be unpaid. Or you can pass another stupid legislation that forbids parents from leaving their kids home with their teenage sibling. Hey Hollywood and Food industry guess what this means no more Friday night dinner and a movie which means no money for you. Only California would be this stupid to introduce another piece of crap legislation that would kill another mean of obtaining income.
Report Post »donflow
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:39am“The problem with socialism is you eventually run out of other peoples money.” -Margaret Thacher
These stupid a$$ liberals / progressives want to control every aspect of our lives…no wonder millions are moving out of CA…
Report Post »NewAmericanist
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:38amBabysitters of the world unite!
Don’t let my wife (and mother of my children hear about this) next thing you know, mothers are going to unionize and start demanding breaks, and paid vacations, and the right to sleep 8 hours without interruption… Next thing you know, they will demand the right to free housing, free education, free healthcare, and the right to work (but not too hard).
Report Post »GrumpyCat
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 11:00amNo, clearly Obama-Brown need to *pay* minimum wage to housewives for their service to the common good for bearing and raising loyal workers.
Report Post »Gita
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:38amIt’s California! Nuff said
Report Post »NEAF
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:35amJust don’t use it. I am grateful for not live in CA. Don’t be surprise if they become union the eventually democraps get more dues.
Report Post »Bob_the_Elephant
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:32amAll this is going to do is get people to stop hiring 18+ year olds when they go out on date night. Sorry all you high school and college students trying to earn a little extra cash.
Report Post »Laureen1
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:28amAnd who’s watching the kids while the babysitter is taking a break? Going to have to hire babysitter babysitters and probably provide them bennies as well? The Democrat freak show continues!
Report Post »jhrusky
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:28amMy Gosh! How stupid and insane are these California people?! How in hell is a babysitter going to be given a 10 minute break? Leave the kid alone? And minimum wage to babysit? All that will do is ensure less babysitting jobs, more people on the goverment dole because they cannot afford to go out and work.
I love visiting California as it’s a beautiful state, but totally overrun and ruled by non-thinking, ignorant people that apparently have the IQ of a gnat!
Sheesh!
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:34amThe citizens of California are not behind this, I can assure you.
Report Post »adayb73
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:11pmQuestion I have is if the people of California don’t want this kind of thing why do they keep electing the people they do? It’s kind of the dumb and dumber question I know but truth is truth, they keep electing “idiots” and they get what they vote for but that is just my opinion.
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 6:32pmADA- The unions have taken over our capitol. We no longer have a voice, short of storming Sacramento and taking it back.
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:26amWT? ? Are parents who want to go see a movie. Have a dinner now going to pay into the workers compensation fund? The unemployment insurance? What else you miserable sob’s got out there in California? You give free medical and everything else under the Sun away for free to illegals. Now you want to really stick to poor Mom and Dad? Who work probably more than 80 hours a week combined to pay your lousy ass es to stay in Sacramento? Gads. DIP WADS!
Report Post »scrapadapolis
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:23amSo do Housewives get the same consideration?And bennys?
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 12:04pmHEY, what about us (Househusbands) (-:
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:20amMandate schmandate. The more laws these people pass, the less relevant law becomes. There is no way to enforce this, and no constitutional authority to enact it. It is invalid if passed.
That is all.
Report Post »Hephzibah
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:20amAnother stroke of brilliance from San Francisco.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:18amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=cMnSp4qEXNM&NR=1
Report Post »FOR EVERYONE WHO FOGOT ANDF BLAMED BUSH
PilgrimStuckInBizarroWorld
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 10:34amThe truth has no agenda!
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