"Domestic workers across the United States are doing critical work to ensure that our economy functions and our families and communities thrive. Families employing domestic workers may have little experience as employers and may not understand their legal responsibilities, their employees' rights, and best practices for maintaining a high-quality, healthy and safe employment environment."
Persons employed in domestic service in private homes are covered by the FLSA
Domestic service workers include companions, babysitters, cooks, waiters, maids, housekeepers, nannies, nurses, janitors, caretakers, handymen, gardeners, home health aides, personal care aides, and family chauffeurs.
File a Wage Complaint
The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is responsible for enforcing some of the nation’s most comprehensive federal labor laws on topics including the minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor, and worker protections in certain temporary guest worker programs.
Employees in the cleaning industry face a number of hazards
According to the National Domestic Workers Alliance, more than 600,000 U. S. domestic workers are employed by private households of which 38% are maids and housekeepers (other main categories are home care workers 20% and childcare 32%).
File a Safety Complaint
Workers have the right to file a confidential safety and health complaint and request an OSHA inspection of your workplace if you believe there is a serious hazard or if you think your employer is not following OSHA standards.
Additional Resources
Gender-Based Violence and Harassment
Everyone has a right to a world of work free from gender-based violence and harassment.
Domestic Service Final Rule Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Congress explicitly extended FLSA coverage to "domestic service" workers in 1974, amending the Act to apply to employees performing household services in a private home, including those domestic service workers employed directly by households or by companies too small to be covered as enterprises under the Act.
State Labor Offices
State labor offices may have laws and resources for Domestic Workers. Contact your state to find out more.
National Domestic Workers Alliance
The National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) works for the respect, recognition, and rights for more than 2.2 million nannies, housecleaners, and home care workers who do the essential work of caring for our loved ones and our homes.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) provides information on what workers do; the work environment; education, training, and other qualifications; pay; the job outlook; information on state and area data; similar occupations; and sources of additional information for more than 300 occupational profiles covering about 4 out of 5 jobs in the economy.
Training pathways and professional learning opportunities
American Job Centers (AJCs) provide free help to job seekers for a variety of career and employment-related needs. Nearly 2,300 AJCs, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, are located throughout the United States.