Wage Parity in 2024 May Be Offset for Home Care Agencies

All Home Care Agencies should be prepared for the wage increases and wage parity decreases in 2024. The Wage Parity Law, originally passed in 2012, requires additional and supplemental benefits to be paid. These benefits are in addition to home care workers’ regular wage. Effective January 1, 2024, the requirements will be reduced to the following:

• New York City from $4.09 to $2.54
• Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester from $3.22 to $1.67.

This $1.55 reduction equates to the $1.55 increase to the cash portion of the minimum wage that will also take place in January 2024. That is when the minimum wage for Home Health workers will increase to $18.55. Entities subject to the Home Care Wage Parity Law are still required to submit forms in the eMedNY system certifying compliance with the Home Care Wage Parity Law, as well as provide employees a notice which details the supplemental wage/benefit portion.

Wage Parity Impact on Employers

Home Care Agencies will need to navigate these changes carefully. The reduction in the requirements and increase in the minimum wage will shift the overall compensation structure for their workforce. Therefore, it becomes imperative for employers to communicate effectively with their employees, ensuring transparency about the changes and potentially exploring alternative ways to maintain competitive compensation packages. This highlights the importance of understanding the intricacies of the Home Care Wage Parity Law, ensuring that Home Care Agencies are prepared and their policies are updated ahead of January 2024. Contact Sinayskaya Yuniver with all of your questions today for more information. DISCLOSURE: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER. THIS LETTER DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP AND IS NOT PROTECTED BY ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE. PRIOR RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A SIMILAR OUTCOME. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CHANGING RAPIDLY. BE SURE TO CHECK WITH OUR OFFICE FOR THE MOST RECENT, UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.