Fingerprinting - the cost of keeping your job

[StormDancer]

I found the post about MFT's being informed that they must be fingerprinted very interesting.
A couple months ago I recieved notice from IHSS that we all had to be fingerprinted at our own expence. This is expected to cost over $50 and comes immediately after they reduced our wages by 10%. When an employer demands that you pay them money to keep your job, it is called extortion. What do we call it when the government does it to us?
-AnnaLisa

[RussianRiverRattina]

I think it's a good idea to curb potential abuse by requiring IHSS workers to undergo fingerprinting & training. But I agree with you: It's totally insane for IHSS to expect us to cover the costs. We only get paid $11.55 per hour, which means we have to work 6+ hours to cover the $70 fees.

I can't afford the $70 either. Especially since my friend only needs me occasionally & I can't pick up more hours for other clients (unless someone hires me directly like my friend did) because IHSS has closed its registry.

Fortunately, this won't take effect until July 2010 & hopefully something will change by then. Most IHSS workers are probably in the same boat as we are & the folks will probably freak out as summer approaches & hardly anyone has their fingerprints done.