This Care Workers Recognition Month, Stacy Kono and Lindsay Imai Hong of Hand in Hand, an affiliate of Irvine’s Fair Work initiative through the LeadersTrust, shared what led them to the work, their efforts to support care workers impacted by the L.A. fires and federal actions, and the role of employers in advocating for domestic worker rights. 

The views and opinions expressed below are solely of those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of The James Irvine Foundation. Responses were edited for length and clarity.

Can you briefly tell us about yourselves and what led you to this work?

Lindsay: My family and I have greatly benefited from the work and care of domestic workers, and I am passionate about ensuring they are treated fairly. A skilled and loving nanny made it possible for my partner and I to stay in our jobs while raising our two sons, and a team of homecare providers made end-of-life easier for my two grandmothers. Since joining Hand in Hand, I’ve also learned a lot about disability justice, and it is the liberatory framework that grounds me in this work. 

How about Hand in Hand? What does your organization do and why?

Stacy: Fifteen years ago, Hand in Hand was founded to mobilize employers of domestic workers to support domestic worker rights legislation. Employers’ involvement shows lawmakers the intimate relationship that domestic workers and employers have, and the mutual benefits of clear employment standards. To date, we’ve mobilized employers to win domestic worker rights legislation in 12 states, two cities, and D.C. We also provide employers with training and written resources to educate them on their legal obligations and fair employment practices in the home. Most employers want to do the right thing but lack an understanding of workplace standards because domestic work has been historically devalued due to sexism and racism. 

What challenges are domestic workers facing in light of recent federal administration actions, such as threats of mass deportation? 

Stacy: This is a very challenging time for our movement. One-third of domestic workers are immigrants and the current administration’s policies are demonizing and attacking immigrant communities. Given the nation’s care workforce shortage, we should be making it easier, not harder, for immigrant domestic workers to stay and work in the United States. Currently, we’re working closely with our National Domestic Workers Alliance partners and incorporating immigrant rights training into our employer education programs. We are also encouraging employers to foster dignity and safety in their homes as workplaces under the theme “Sanctuary Homes” and have been distributing guidance on how to support immigrant workers since the inauguration.

Natural disasters like the recent wildfires in Los Angeles are also impacting domestic workers. How are you supporting them during this time? 

Lindsay: The Los Angeles fires earlier this year not only destroyed hundreds of homes but also resulted in huge job losses for domestic workers. As the city rebuilds, domestic workers are being asked to clean up  ash, soot, debris, and damaged homes, much of which contain toxic chemicals. Hand in Hand, alongside our partners at CDWC, circulated fire safety cleanup guidelines throughout California and the country. Our five years of organizing and advocacy for Cal/OSHA protections for excluded domestic workers also resulted in Cal/OSHA declaring it would protect ALL workers, including domestic workers, doing post-fire clean up.

People don’t normally think of organizing employers when thinking about worker rights. Why is it important to involve employers in the domestic worker rights movement?

Stacy: Domestic and care work is a unique kind of working relationship that happens behind closed doors in private homes. Despite growing awareness around domestic worker rights, many employers still don’t see themselves as such, and the power imbalance makes it challenging for many domestic workers to advocate for their rights. We need ongoing and widespread investments in education and outreach to workers and employers to make rights real on a large scale. 

Furthermore, some lawmakers don’t believe that private homes should be treated as workplaces. Employers’ participation in Bill of Rights campaigns and hearings shows that millions of homes in the U.S. are indeed workplaces, and that employers understand and want clear guidelines and long-term relationships with the people they hire. Like all other industries, workers who are treated fairly will do better work and are more likely to stay in jobs than those who are not. 

Finally, we are amid a care crisis, where workforce shortages, particularly in home care, mean that older adults and people with disabilities do not have the care they need to stay in their homes and communities. This is inhumane and unjustifiable. Most of us will need care and support at some point, and many of us will manage the care of a loved one. Therefore, we all have a stake at making care and domestic work good, family-sustaining jobs.

Photo credit: Hand in Hand