I work in a nursing home as a personal care worker. I make 15.64 an hour, which is the maxium you can make an hour at this particular institution. It doesn’t matter if you have been employed here for 10 or 25 years. Thats it. We have a measly pension, crappy medical, no dental and no long term disability. We take care of your parents & grandparents. We bathe them, dress them, feed them, comfort them and treat them as if they are our family. Now, we are being offered a 1 % raise after working without a contract for 2 years. 2 years! Water, power and food prices are rising steadily. This would be our first raise in 2 years, roughly 16 cents. When you see us standing on the corner with our signs please support us. We have to take care of our family before we can care for yours. —Pay me fairly
This article appears in Feb 10-16, 2011.
just be glad you have a job o.p., many don’t, and would even care for those that you do. i hear it and see it, just about everyday, someone hates their job, or loves their, but hates the pay.
maybe if all the stadiums and the like bullshit, are let out of a politition’s little mind, then maybe wages or shit would be better. yeah i know people, kelly is only the mayor not a premier, but that goes for his office too.
instead of all the grand ideas, about how to show off this province, how about putting something in, to show the people they care about them, and not some fucking image. as long as their are these pigs at the trough, we and you o.p., will get fuck all.
Before you chose your profession did you actually look into it to see what the compensation was? If not, then it’s your fault. If you did, then you have to take responsibility for your decision. That goes for any profession/job.
OP, you’re efforts (despite often overlooking and undervalued) are critical, as most people don’t want to take the responsibility to care for their elderly. If it possible for you to see additional training, further education, etc. As for benefits, pension, etc….you can purchase benefits from BlueCross, and invest in RRSPs. Don’t expect your employer to provide everything. Thankfully mine does provide excellent benefits and pension program, which I appreciate and value, but I’m one of the lucky ones I guess.
If you believe those who support market solutions in all cases, then you are being compensated according to what ‘the market’ thinks you are worth.
If so, it appears ‘the market’ doesn’t place a very high value on those who look after us when we’re too old to look after ourselves.
If you are planning a job action for a better contract, I wish you good luck.
Personally, I think you’re worth more than ‘the market’ does.
I’d kill to make $15.64/hr. I currently bring in just over $13/hr. Sure you have a job not many out there are willing to do (I, myself, looked into it and actually volunteered to try it out and decided it certainly was not for me). It sucks your employer does not offer a better benefits package, however be thankful you’ve got one at all.
I don’t think that my cousin gets $15.64. I’ll have to ask her.
How about getting your patients to talk to their families about getting you a raise.
YOU accepted the terms of employment so quit bitching your are not being paid to live a lifestyle you fabricated in your head!
Fawk, this backward reasoning really gets to me.
Jeez, after working for a place for a dozen years, you would think that you would get a raise. I’m surprised at the lack of empathy (oh wait, maybe I’m not). I have a lot of respect for people who work in these kinds of positions, you’re doing work that many don’t want to. All the power to you if you can legally maneuver better wages and regular increases and appropriate benefits.
My sister in law also works in a position like this, she works hard and well, and I’d like to think that as she gains more experience she’ll be recognized and paid appropriately (like anything, starting out is tough though).
I work in a unionized job and I got an 18% raise over a 3 year contract which will end April 1st.
Benefits? Raise? Job? What mean these words????
Please shut up and count your blessings.
Oh, and I’m not saying it’s an easy job you do, I have respect for anyone who can do it… but shit! I’d give my eye teeth for a crappy job right now…. Okay, now I’m rambling… carry on…
I think what’s most interesting about your current position, is how it will have to change in response to the staggering increases in the elderly population over the next 5-10 years. We’re even seeing it now, and many an administrator are scrambling in order to accommodate for this rise in numbers. Improved treatment options have allowed people to live longer than ever before and although that can be, on the face of it, a comforting thought, the unfortunate byproduct of this ‘improvement’ is a heck of a lot more people reaching their 80’s/90’s, taxing an already ‘head just above water’ system. I’m sure you of all people are well aware of this OP (newbie to online chat, what does this mean? Original Poster?), and, as unfortunate as your current situation is, for better or worse the new influx of aged is going to require a kick in the ass to the entire business of long term care facility’s, their value assessment of staff, and on a wayward note, may ultimately require we rejig our philosophies on death, and how best to pass on. So…party?
I think the ony reason what you make isn’t perfect for you because of the cost of living. Nobody feels that they make enough and everyone works hard.
I personally can’t stand when people complain about how much they make doing their job, because nobody chooses your occupation except yourself. If you aren’t happy, then do something else. If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, then you my friend, are lucky. Not everyone gets to.
I work hard, and every single person I know works hard. Whether you’re a home-care worker, RN, doctor, lawyer, soldier, call centre employee, …. Ect. Everyone works hard. Maybe not EVERY BODY in each occupation, but there ARE people who work in each occupation that work their little hearts out, and I am sure a lot of people feel they don’t make enough money. Welcome to life.
If I see you on the corner with a sign I will look for a puddle and splash you mightily.
You probably lie and pretend that you took this job to “help others” but you knew what the pay was when you took it.
If you go on strike for more money (despite already getting a raise) or a better pension (even though a lot of people don’t have one) or more medical benefits when MANY people don’t have any then you should be prepared that someone else will do that job for the pay and benefits you get now. Suck it up.
People that complain about having medical benefits and getting raises really piss me off.
Get a better education, only then do you deserve to expect more money.
as if there’s that many people on here that think that $15 is all the people that will care for you and your parents should be paid. $15/hour is dogshit money.
As the original poster I feel that a few items need to be adressed.
Yes, I knew what the pay was when I began my training for this job.
Yes, I spent 4000 to be trained to do said job.
Yes, I am happy to have a job (especially one that pays above min. wage).
Some comments, namely Koda’s, need not be justified- but I will say that while working at a burger joint as a teen, I recieved raises every 6 months. Maybe only 15 cents, but still raises.
As for pretending to love my job for the pay, devil girl, I DO love my job. I don’t believe anyone would get into this profession for pay alone. If they did, they wouldn’t last long. At times, it isn’t exactly glamorous.
The long & short of the whole thing is everything is more expensive then it was yesterday, and won’t be changing. EVERYONE deserves cost of living raises at the very least. While else
does minimum wage go up? I will not suck it up. We aren’t asking for the world here….just fairness.
Well if you’re union, it appears your union accepted the offer. How many voted to accept? If not union and the majority do not like the offer, you have the option to go on a wildcat strike.
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so, i’m worth a little over 2 million, give me the cash, and take me home. a bargain any day.
Anyone whose job description includes wiping someone else’s ass deserves AT LEAST $20/hr.
I can tell from many of the comments that the bitchers are young people because of their lack of understanding regarding the OPs bitch and their lack of empathy for the OP. When i read the OP, I didn’t see her really complaining about the pay so much but about the wage increase she’s being offered which is the most normal thing in the world for rational adults to do. This may come as shock to you young kids, but if you don’t get a raise each year that accounts for inflation, then you’re actually going backwards,..getting less pay. Now naturally the OP like most people in the world would like more money. But we all know that money is tight these days. But again, if you don’t get a cost of living raise each year it is the same as your pay being reduced each year. Simple as that.
Interesting times we live in when people get upset at others for simply wanting to live their lives and get by on their small earnings.
To the OP is say hats off to you. You make roughly $30,000 a year doing a difficult job that many on this board feel is below them. You’re not looking to get rich,..only to stay at the same level in life. At the same time i worry because i don’t feel you’re making near enough money to save anything for retirement, let alone to improve yourself through education if you feel you want to go that route. Good luck and i hope your pay at least stays the same this year and isn’t reduced via inflation.
I agree with inflation hater 100%. Never mind some of the jerks on this site, OP. Good luck.
Lolz Donk.
$2,153,082. I can tell you something though, my IQ is not 146
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I agree that nurses do a hard job and probably should get paid more. But, teachers also feel they should get paid more. People on disability feel they should get more money. Seniors feel they should get more money. People in rural areas feel their highways should be fixed. Bumfuck Nowhere feels they need more equipment for their community rink. Do you see where I’m going with this? Everyone feels their cause is the most important. The province does what they can (somewhat) with the little money they have when they’re done purchasing generators. I believe you should get paid more OP, but everyone else thinks they should get paid more as well.
Agreed, inflation_hater and ralmn. Any pay raise that is below the CPI increase is actually a decrease in real wages. Any basic macro economics course’ll tell you that.
CCAs have a tough job. Ultimately they will either end up taking care of YOU or someone you love (either in a long term care facility or through home care) — anyone who thinks this job is beneath them better evaluate their outlook on life.
Oh, and because I have nothing better to do at work today *ahem*, I now know that I’m worth $2,674.225.44. Not bad. Any takers?
No our workers did not take it Bro Tim. 90% to strike. So we will be on the side of the road sometime after March 4th? I hope its warmer by then.
Then good luck on your strike.
LOL See you on the picket lines!