Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Illinois in-home care aides overtime delayed again

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois officials on Monday delayed for a second time a cost-saving policy that would cap overtime pay for home health care aides.
article by Ashley Lisenby - Associated Press | March 1, 2016
The Department of Human Services told The Associated Press that another grace period will allow officials to negotiate and clarify policy conditions with the union that represents 25,000 home care workers.

State officials said they don’t know how long the policy will be delayed.

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration announced in November it would limit overtime hours starting March 1 to save $7 million a year. But the Service Employees International Union said the policy will mean service disruption and unpredictability for clients.

Thousands of employees who help about 30,000 people with physical and developmental disabilities are eligible for time-and-a-half pay after working 40 hours a week under a federal law that took effect Jan. 1.

Human Services spokeswoman Marianne Manko said the agency agreed to the delay because the union and its employees said they needed more time to understand the policy and its implications.

Terri Harkin, vice president of the home care division at SEIU Healthcare Illinois, called the policy “ill-conceived” in a statement Monday.

“Together with disability advocates, home care workers have been demanding that the state engage in thoughtful discussion and negotiation over the new overtime policy,” Harkin said.

The Rauner administration has said the state can’t afford the extra pay during a fiscal crisis that has stymied for nine months an annual budget agreement between the Republican governor and Democrats who control the Legislature.

Manko said the state wants to control costs without interrupting the care clients need.

Under the overtime policy, workers would be limited to a 40-hour work week, including up to five hours of travel time, according to a memo obtained by the AP in January.

Exceptions for exceeding the time cap include caring for clients who can’t be left alone or have a medical emergency. After violating the policy three times, a home care provider could lose his or her license.

Manko said the “three strikes” rule and other conditions could change during negotiations, but that the overtime limit is responsible.

“We need a policy so people don’t abuse overtime,” Manko said.

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