What Makes Domestic Workers So Vulnerable to Abuse and Exploitation?

Domestic workers are anyone who goes to work in someone else’s private home. This can include but is not limited to housekeepers, personal chefs, property managers, nannies, and landscapers. The nature of their work is to make someone else’s life easier and to handle tasks that someone else may not have time for or simply do not want to perform. Domestic work is generally done discreetly and alone, as to not disturb the homeowners. The work is performed on private property, and often both literally and metaphorically behind closed doors. For this reason, many domestic workers feel invisible and vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Consider this, a housekeeper is expected to keep her employer’s home spotless, and to have everything looking pristine by the time they come home from work. The goal is to spend all day cleaning and then to leave the premises before her employer returns. Her entire day is spent in solitude, and if she does her job well, she will never even interact with her employer. This is not an uncommon situation. It is evident why situations such as this can lead to intense feelings of isolation and invisibility.

Let’s consider another hypothetical. A nanny spends all day taking care of her employer’s young children, but for whatever reason, she does not perform up to her client’s standards. The client berates her for her failings and then docks her pay for several days. Who can this woman report the unfair treatment to? There is no HR department, no boss’s boss, and no co-workers. She is forced to either endure the abuse, seek legal counsel, or seek new employment. Often times, domestic workers choose to put up with some abuse in favor of lengthy and expensive lawsuits or time away from work.

At Yeremian law, we understand the predicament that domestic workers are in, and we want to assure everyone working within a home that abusive treatment is not right. If you choose to leverage a lawsuit against your employer, we can help to make it as easy and seamless as possible. Do not be afraid to stand up for your rights. We will be standing with you.