I Felt Like Someone Was Robbing Me
By Daniel Reyes
As a caregiver, it can be hard to say when my shifts start and end. Day and night, I work, caring for elderly patients who can no longer live independently. I move patients from their beds to the wheelchairs, change their diapers, administer medications, and feed their meals. I do laundry, clean the house, and provide patients with what they need to feel safe and comfortable. Some need special attention, like being rotated every two hours to prevent bed sores. Sometimes I don’t get a whole night’s sleep to ensure patients with dementia don’t wander outside in the middle of the night. When I finish with one person, I repeat the routine with others—every day.
It’s difficult work, but I think of my patients like family, so I endured. That’s why I was angry to be paid only $54 a day by my previous employer. I received no overtime pay, no matter how many hours I worked. I later learned this is a form of wage theft after talking to coworkers working with the Pilipino Worker Center, a nonprofit that helps improve conditions for Pilipino workers in Southern California.
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