This HIA will inform the establishment of a Massachusetts Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights that is under consideration by the state Legislature. The bill of rights would amend state labor law to guarantee basic work standards and protect domestic workers, primarily nannies, housekeepers, and personal caregivers/aides. The HIA will provide the best available information on the law’s potential health effects on domestic workers, their families and communities, and recipients of their services. These impacts may be associated with rest and recovery time, wage and income security, and occupational health. Examples of immediate impacts of the bill include changes in amount and quality of sleep; the ability to seek care when sick or injured; flexibility and control over work schedules; income; privacy; and exposure to health and safety hazards, among others. Intermediate impacts might include changes in cognitive functioning and concentration; physical and emotional fatigue; productivity; social relationships; and, economic security.
This HIA was funded through a partnership with the National Network of Public Health Institutes and the Health Impact Project.
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This Health Impact Assessment Report first appeared in The Cross-Sector Toolkit for Health. The Cross-Sector Toolkit for Health was originally developed by the Health Impact Project, formerly a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts. The creation of this resource was supported by a grant from the Health Impact Project. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Charitable Trusts, or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
