25/03/2015
The United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) has launched on its site this March 2015 a member-exclusive minimum wage toolkit outlining a step-by-step and practical guide to help providers comply with minimum wage payment. The toolkit is based on up-to-date law and contains practical illustrations as well as advice regarding actions to implement in order to ensure the National Minimum Wage Act’s requirements are satisfied.
UKHCA is one of UK’s premier homecare associations with about 2,200 members across the country. The association aims to promote quality and sustainability in home care service.
Additionally, in a press release of UKHCA on its site last March 13, the homecare association voiced out its condemnation of the practice of “clipping” and encouraged providers to pay carers their rightful wage under the law.
Clipping involves trimming down periods of back-to-back care visits so that the care worker’s travel time is virtually accommodated into the appointments’ schedule. UKHCA said this practice is not only disadvantageous to patients but may also constitute a violation of the care service contract if not previously agreed upon.
UKHCA also noted that interpretation of the Minimum Wage Regulations may be complicated in the care industry considering the complicated work patterns of carers. Still, the association calls on providers to comply with payment of minimum wage.
Colin Angel, policy director of UKHCA, said:
“It is never acceptable that homecare workers should be underpaid the National Minimum Wage, nor should the Minimum Wage be seen as an appropriate recognition of the care and essential skills of the homecare workforce.
“It is tragic that underpayment of Minimum Wage and the unacceptable practice of shortened homecare visits illustrate the impact on people of a largely undervalued and underfunded care system. We urge providers, councils and government to work together to ensure that the risk of this practice becoming widespread is prevented.”
