A U.S. District Court judge in Washington, D.C., struck down the Department of Labor’s revised definition of exempt “companionship services” on January 14, in a lawsuit brought by home care workers to gain basic federal labor protections.
The Labor Department appealed the judge’s ruling and oral arguments were heard May 7, as home care workers rallied in front of the Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse to demand fair treatment.
Home care is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country, although more than 2 million workers earn less than minimum wage and don’t receive overtime pay.