Welcome to one of the potential hurdles of the gig economy. As a state, we need to get this right.
A serious shortage of workers at nursing homes affects every Floridian who wants a loved one to get quality care, and state lawmakers deserve credit for providing a straightforward solution to start addressing this urgent health care crisis.
Unfortunately, that commendable effort has not worked out as intended, and nursing home workers and their patients are being shortchanged by some supplemental staffing firms that have embraced a low-cost, high-risk business model using 1099 workers instead of W2 employees.
As the Tampa Bay Times reported, the Florida Legislature recently approved budget language that aims to ensure long-term health care facilities receiving Medicaid money pay workers a minimum wage of $15 an hour. This move was designed to keep more people working in long-term care settings. The change took effect in October 2022, yet many workers have not received the pay increase they deserve.
The reason: A dispute over the definition of who qualifies for the $15 an hour minimum wage. Is it only employees of the nursing homes, or is it also individuals hired by outside firms as independent contractors to work in the facilities?
Welcome to one of the potential hurdles of the gig economy. As a state, we need to get this right.
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