Homecare Workers: A Case Study of a Female Occupation

Abstract

The research was carried out for the Ministry of Women S Affairs by M dire Dwyer, Janice Bums, Jo Lynch and Huia ngarangi-Lambie. The aim was to investigate the factors that influenced the pay and conditions of homecare workers. A literature review was carried out in tandem with a small programme of field research which involved interviews with funders, six home care agencies, workers and clients. The study found that the factors that led to low pay and conditions for homecare workers in New Zealand were substantially similar to those identified in the literature. Wages were low, $8.50 - $10.50 an hour, with effective wages even lower as no agencies paid for travel time and half did not pay allowances for using own vehicles. Only half the workers had received training, and most workers spent more time than paid for with some clients.