The Workers Who Stay Are Paid the Least - California Can Fix That

I've spent years working in senior care. I've helped isolated residents rediscover purpose, guided
people through grief and healing, and created programs that brought joy to individuals in their final
chapter of life. I've stayed not because it was easy, but because it mattered.
And yet, despite the lives I've impacted, I now earn less than the people I trained.
This isn't an isolated story. Across California, long-term employees are being underpaid simply
because their wages haven't been adjusted to match the current market. While employers raise pay
to attract new hires, the people who've stayed loyal are left behind. It's called wage suppression,
and it's quietly punishing the very people who hold institutions together.
I've remained in a position that's notorious for burnout and high turnover, giving consistent care in an
industry where few do. Instead of being rewarded for that commitment, I've been financially
overlooked.
This practice doesn't just hurt workers - it leads to burnout, constant staffing disruptions, and
reduced quality of care. In senior care, that means residents lose familiar, trusted relationships, and
staff morale suffers.
I'm calling on the California Legislature to pass a bill that:
- Requires regular wage audits for long-term employees
- Mandates market-aligned pay adjustments
- Prohibits wage suppression based solely on how long someone has stayed
This isn't about entitlement. It's about fairness. It's about building workplaces where commitment is
honored - not punished.