Right to Security and Protection

 

On this Podcast, Andy had an interaction with Carmel Foster who’s launching her own book, the content and who will benefit it. He then understands how domestic workers fight for their rights and benefits. He discovers the challenges and trials they’ve been that pushes Carmel to write a book and start a business that aims to inform domestic helpers to be self sufficient and to have a long term client equals job security.

Andy and Carmel also talk about how domestic helpers are exploited and abused in their jobs and because of that Carmel urges to have a bill passed for their security and protection.

You will learn: 

  •   About keeping your rights and building self sufficiency in your line of job
  • How to be positive and strong despite the Odds
  • How personal experience create value to a business
  • The importance of mentorship

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Transcriptions:

Andy Audate

I want to change lives. I want to show people how to progress in their money. I want to show people how to progress their mindset. I want to show people how to progress in their brand so that way they can take care of their family. Take care of the finances and experience freedom.

Carmel Foster

I want to talk about the content of the book and it takes us back to the cleaning. The domestic workers, the caregivers, the nannies. And so that is what we do. We, we, we go into people's homes and we clean them, whether it's privately or through an agency. And some of these people are actually through union or organization and I was with all about it.And then when I realized that it's not working for the worker and it's not working for the client, that middle man ain't working, you paying union dues, you pay you're working through the organization. The client will pay the service off the caregiver. For instance, if she's got cancer. So the agency will take like $50 an hour.And then we'll pay the caregiver $13 an hour. And so now when you're working with the client, you're not getting the value for your money. First of all, the client, the caregiver can't focus. I can't get as burned out because after she leaves today, she's got to go back to back working at maybe five other people for $13 an hour to meet financial needs.Yep. So what are we doing here? First of all, we are abandoning the client because there's somebody out there. I have a feminist gonna put me in. So now you abandoned that client and in California, it's considered a form of abuse if you abandoned that time. But what else can I do? And so the agencies will say, you are not allowed to discuss what we pay you.So the crime doesn't understand why am I getting this lousy service I'm paying so much? And so the goal is to get rid of this book called We'll be entrepreneurs, how to be self-sufficient, how to have long term clients. Equals chopped security. And so that is the goal. And then a lot of people look at a kid and they think that they are class citizens, or they are just nothing. Nobody understands as a reason they became our domestic worker, a cleaner, a nanny, you know, for instance like me, I wasn't an executive but after my divorce five years ago, I was like, Oh my God, there's no way I'm going to go and be on Ralphy. I'd rather go clean wireless. When I grew up, I used to, you know, we, we, we were raised very poor, very clean, and so I just started to go clean wireless. And that's how I started becoming a domestic worker again.And then I worked myself up to. Getting hired by an executive. Yeah. In California executive him and his wife were paying me less than minimum wage, very wealthy people, less than $5 an hour. And I was everything to the manager. He had Parkinson's disease. It's just in one day I just got so bad about this is so crazy.And I called an organization. I called them, I called her and I said, I don't know what to do. You know, the client I'm taking care of as Parkinson's, I really want to leave. I'm tired. I'm burned out. This is an $8,000, 8,000 square feet home. I can't manage all these migrant workers migrants from other countries.I just can't be so much. And it's like, Oh my God, do you know what's happening? They are exploiting you, they're supposed to pay you proper. You should have break time. You said I'm interrupted, sleep, come. We're gonna help you. So I met with the organization and that introduced me to an attorney. So the attorney broke my case, but you have a great case, but  you're telling me $2,000 for unpaid wages.

And I, and I said, Wow. That's great. I said, I just thought you know that I owe me that money. It's not even negotiate, bro. I want to make sure this never happens to other people because I am a professional clean that I communicate better. And I'm sure there's so many people like us everybody don't know their story.They don't know. How to become domestic workers. They don't mean they don't have education. They don't mean that we're not maybe an attorney in the country you know? And I said, I want to make sure this never happens. And so what we did, I lost the case of this wage test and that's the power of corruption and money.

Andy Audate

They were going to give you $22,000. And then how did you, you, you went from getting to attract for $22,000. How did you switch?

Carmel Foster

Nope. I didn't even pick up. They just missed, I just domesticated the use of power, the interim attorneys. And there's no grounds after all of that. And then I said, okay, That's the name of the game.That's what you guys do, you know, but I don't want to, since I lost it, I didn't get the money. I want a ball pass for the 300,000 domestic workers we have now so that they have protection in private homes. So we got their bell PEs. So even though the monitory parks we lost it. We now came up with what's called a vision of famous.What are the hours spent on breaks in that you know they have to have basic worker benefits, you know? So at least we want to go on that path. Then I went to work with definitely other organizations and I realized all these different challenges. And I was like, I told myself, First of all, this is a need based industry.There's no going no, no, no, no, no. It's a, but these people need the service. They will pay for the service. That's really left the system and the labor knows everybody knows we are workers just like every other worker. Even though we domestic workers, we still are entitled to basic worker rights. So we came up with what's called a domestic workers bill of rights.Even though we have 50 States it's just passed in about nine States. So we still have a lot of that work going on. And this is one of my goal is to go on different platforms and make sure that people understand you as a domestic worker, undocumented, irrespective of your legal status. And you are working in this industry.You have basic worker rights, you are protected by the domestic workers, bill of rights. And so I write about all of that in my book, too. You know, and giving, telling them my story, how it happened to me. And, you know, I mean, now in your business, who is your client? Like, who is your clientele? Are you working in your business?Are you working for the actual client over the muscle workers? Are you working for the domestic workers? What should I do? So that's my business. So I saw a domestic worker. I have my private clients that I could take care of. I work as a caregiver. So I created a business called my character residence and what my character reference is, it's a storage it's like a storage unit.Well, this is an online state of storage where all the domestic workers like myself, they. When they work with a client and they leave that client, they got to go find another job and another job. And that client will say okay we're coming out. Where did you work last month? So they saw all of the references on my database, which is called my character reference.

So I manage this database with all the work of store, their data. On my website and I also give them soft skills. So they get training from me and they store that data. And I, and I give it to clients in like a PDF form showing a picture. This is the reference from the client's use work. These are the basics.These are the skills. These are the certificates. And so a lot of people say, Oh, you know, I used to take care of my mom. My mom died now. And then I say, okay, I'm going to train you how to work with people with Parkinson's. And so I give them the training, the soft skills, and they pass it threatening and they might have information on this database.and they keep working and growing. I'm told they want to be like me now, now, or when I have my own business. So my own business now is training all these people, keeping all that data on my database, so that there's a central system for, can you give us a nanny's and image strictly for them? So that's the two paths, not only drive my business, I still work.You know, and the reason I continue to do that so that I can continue to see, watch, I just need to be done. You know? So we take it to the legislator. We need extra education for this. Caregivers are doing more than nurses are doing. Let's invest in their training. Let's make them RN, you know, so I continue to work and bring those concerns from other caregivers and managers.

Andy Audate

So what you're doing is that you're working with a clientele. You have, you have a group of other caregivers and other people who are in the same, same, same field, which is a domestic worker. And what you're doing is you're storing their data on your database, giving their actual, the actual client, the one needing the service.This person could have Parkinson's disease. This person could have another illness and they need someone to give care for them. And they go to you and say, Hey, can you tell me about John DOE or Jane DOE? Can you tell me about them and what the past is? Because I don't see, I see that there's, there's some, there's a gap missing in their data and you come in and you fill the gap.Number one. And number two is you share an authenticated version of their past history. 

Carmel Foster

Absolutely. And, but yet what, what makes me different? I don't work directly with the clients. That's just the first time in an industry. They're caregivers. The man is, they are my time. They will instruct me, Hey, come out.Can you send my, my reference letter to MB? You know what I mean? And you come to me and say can you give me a list? No, I strictly work for my clients. This is the first time I put the control and the. 

Andy Audate

Now who pays you. Okay. 

Carmel Foster

So what I do is the way I have it, and I'm doing a lot of marketing the way I have it.I want you to one day, look on my website. You all see how my website's designed. I have three packages at the bottom and those packages are like one is $79 a year. One is I believe, $109 a year. And the other one is two 99 a year. So what those packages are is for them to store this stuff. Like you go to a storage unit and you'll say, can I have this morning? I just ran to a store for my shoe. 

Andy Audate

And then what, where do you put the data? 

Carmel Foster

I have a database. So I have an outside beta base. So basically I created this, this website from scratch. So everybody says, for instance, you're cleaning your house, I'm cleaning my house, I'm moving. And I'm finding all these types of references.As I got 10 years, we know how important references are. From 10 years ago. And I said, okay, so they scan it and they send it to me and I fold it into this storage unit because so every now and then I take this and I TA I tuck it up and create it into a professional PDF form. So when somebody wants them and they said, Hey, come out.Oh, I'm going for this interview. Can you prepare just the one for the last three years and the way I do it, the way it looks, it's the most professional document. And I think I emailed it to Fatima. And so they get those, he does the picture of Chorale or what she eats. A kid gives her a little background memoir and then my references.So basically I hold all the information on my website, the storage units. And so that's a way to showcase themselves because many times people work for somebody, those people don't think they need an FMS. It's more than anything. Domestic workers need nobody, you know, or would they say I used to work as an Uber driver, but now I only work in all my references on the platform.People are mad but it's true. So I said, now you have a client. You give that client. and that client goes directly to your part or on my website and the client can just type it in. It's very limited in the client world, right. The service. And then I just get it on there. So it's what it is, like a steady, when somebody goes to the website and they typing.You can print it right away. It's a template designed to make it so easy for everybody just to put it in. And it's all right from your prompter. 

Andy Audate

Wow. Got it. So you're giving, you're giving a lot of value to the domestic workers and because you're essentially cutting, cutting the workload out that they would have to then do themselves to get the right information to the clients to the actual clients.Now, what is the problem in the space? You know you were sharing with me that there's a problem in the space and how they're treated now. Do you, are you solving that problem as well? 

Carmel Foster

Oh, it's the white days. A lot of problems are thought about and the way I'm solving this problem. And for me, it's the only way to solve this problem is to get them.Self-sufficient you working with these clients then those clients into your authentic clients, your clients, so that you can serve them. There's no law that says they cannot, as long as you comply with the laws, you raise your petition business and the client gives you a 10 99. Lot of people don't know they can do that.

And so again, we want to keep them compliant, like what you've meant.Collect from, you know, the guy that was there with Texas. That's why I needed to speak to him too, because a lot of these domestic workers would love to go out on their own, but they're afraid. I don't know where to stop. And like, Oh, what about the taxes?

I don't know how to do it. You know? So those are all the stuff we want to keep them compliant to. So what I do, I give them the training. I first of all give them skills training, soft training. Like effective communication,you know, dealing with time management, all the stuff that I would say is very important when you deal with our elder or when you, when you are dealing with a child.

So I have over 200, so I do those training online. It's built into my system too. And so I get them ready to take their client on as their. They're flying for the next 10,15 years and their client will pay them better. They're able to buy a house, buy a car because they can show consistent income. And that is my goal.And then a lot of people that come yet, they eat food stems. They're on welfare. And it's only because they work with agencies that give them little, I have very little money and it's not necessary. And so then never grow. And so my goal really is to make them self sufficient, both full stems.Get up as Ralph, you get to be worth off. You came here to be better off. And me as an immigrant I'm gonna help you. I do this. You know and then go to training, go get coaching gift gifts. 

Andy Audate

And what's the training? Because you said that you give them soft skills. What are the soft skills that you would give them?

Carmel Foster

So because the type of people we ask, a lot of us come from different countries. We come from different cultures and then the clients we work with here are also from different countries. And. Different cultures. So what I normally like is the first thing I like to train them and I do it via video and there's a period.And then I have to write the test and I have to pass it and they get a certificate. So one of those will be effective communication. How do you effectively communicate? You know, it depends if it's somebody that doesn't talk, then I teach them how to be like. Empathy. Do you know what to do, watch me meet with a client? And I see the client is a very difficult client, you know, like, Oh, that's going down. Then I choose from my, where my 200 training. What I need to train this caregiver on. Maybe just time management.

Andy Audate

You get to work with the domestic workers who are from different countries. Who have different cultures, they come to the United States to work. Usually what would happen is that they would be. Maltreated or there'll be malpractice with working with the domestic workers, what you've done as you stepped in as a middleman.And you're educating the domestic workers on how to have the right mindset as well as how to have the soft skills to communicate with clients connect with the clients and do their job properly. We also educate them on how they should be treated as domestic workers versus how they used to be.

Carmel Foster

Absolutely on both sides. And then also I let the client know the rights that they have and I let the client know their culture so that the client can also be a way because many times clients really don't know. You know, I know I worked with one lady once who was Japanese and. Every time I would talk to her.She looked at me like an artist. Oh, why do you because of a culture shift? She never would look at me in my face. So what I do, I also teach everybody Mmm. diversity skills. How about holidays? Understand that this is a diverse country. So I teach them how they deal with that. Constantly, even in a home, you know, so that they can't sweat the little things.Cause many times there's just a misunderstanding, but there are a lot of things. So when, when they meet the client, I will say to them, this kind of. Effective communications care of the clients. Most caregivers know how to manage time properly. She has a certificate in nutrition, you know? So there's now what, what inspires you to create a personal brand though now?

Andy Audate

Cause now, cause you, you, you just came from the brand marketing summit. Speaking on the progression tour. What inspires you, someone in your industry, which is, I've never heard of someone in this industry before. So that might be a good thing too, you know, because you get to dominate, but I'm curious if from your perspective what inspired you to create a personal brand?

Carmel Foster

I'm so glad you asked her because in the beginning my daughter was like, Oh mom, they should know. I used to work as an executive assistant. The reason why I mainly was inspired to do this because this is the workforce. So the people that domestic workers that are always left behind, they're always in the back.And yet nobody has ever sat down and thought about when I go to these hotels, when I go to these events help clean, and while it's meant, do you know who is doing that? But this is a way for me to bring awareness that first of all these are real people. 

Andy Audate

Right, right. Right. My mom was, my mom was one. 

Carmel Foster

Oh, yeah, you told me, but you will find a lot of people don't want to talk about it.And it's because there's not enough extricating, not enough going out there and introducing, this is the, this is the people that keep us alive. I mean, I read one day in a book, you said that the domestic workers welcomed the mothers of the world. I remember reading that and it's very true. And so my, the reason I decided I want to go out here and let them know we can learn so much from you.

There are a lot of people that like, Ooh, bless you one more. So we can also learn from each other. And how are we going to learn? It's encouraging to share their stories, share their stories. A lot of them have gone through hardship and people think. For me, domestic workers go through the most abuse, the most abuse, and nobody talks about it even. They don't talk about it because they might lose their job, you know. 

Andy Audate

But why create a personal brand with your you're? You're sharing about my character references, sharing about common Carmel foster you're sharing about your growth and sharing about your story. Why would you create a brand and speak on stage?

Carmel Foster

Well, I want, I want people to come learn about the industry. Yeah. 

Andy Audate

So you bring that, you're bringing awareness to the challenges that the industry offers or has, and then you also bring awareness to the solution that you've created. That what it is. 

Carmel Foster

Yes. The solution. And also I want people to help encourage domestic workers to work directly with them and leave out the middle man because the middleman is not helping them.First of all, and it's not helping us, you know? And so it really, I want, I want people to stop working with them one on one. 

Andy Audate

Gotcha. Gotcha. So now what can people expect from you? So, so, you know, some of the listeners on this show are going to be attendees of the progression conference on a national tour that will be on.And what can, what can the audience expect from you from your presentation on stage? First of all and I want them to know that.I want him to know how hard it is. I will work very very hard. We, we, we do this work because we love it. We want to give families a real break but do any of them understand the challenges that we have and those challenges can be changed? Would they help? And, and principally, I want to ask them, do you, can you mention going to work every day for 20 or 30 years and you don't have health insurance and you don't have savings for your children.That's exactly what domestic workers are going through. 

Andy Audate

So you want them, but you want to continue to raise awareness? 

Carmel Foster

Yes. And then can you help us? We will be walking together with domestic workers around the country, coming up with ideas that you can help us work. And please have an open mind and work with us.We'll be, you know, advertising in your communities wherever. So I'm not gonna say that's his work. We need every state, every county to have their own. So we're going to be working with the community based domestic workers and see what works for them. What are the challenges they have? And can we work with them? For instance you shouldn't ask to work. You shouldn't have to live in this County, but you got up to drive three hours to go work in another County cause they paid $2 more so that you can afford to pay your accommodation. That's what they did back in the, in, in Atlantic, you know, during the mothers would be away for four months and come home once a month.Because the money there. So we separated from the family. So we want to change this. The community leads to help us so that we can keep the service in the community, but let it be also a benefit. Let's talk about how you can contribute to our, our, our benefits, social security, theater time, and, you know, and we won't give them the same in return.Because now we, we have a job security, so I'm going to be asking. 

Andy Audate

So how can, you know, as, as we were wrapping up the podcast, share with me or in the artists, that's listening, how can they support you in your mission to change this world?

Carmel Foster

Yeah. The way this, this there's definitely ways, you know, is first of all, I would like for every person. To take one worker and take them at least for one year in their home, give them that job security. And while they do that, the register them on the database called my character reference so that they bolding death restrooms on those end, it shows the ability at least for one year and

How to pay for their social security, you know, who it is.

Andy Audate

Who is the client that you're looking for as far as to actually help the worker. Who would that person be like? Is that people who are, who just have illnesses or is it what type of people would hire these workers? Like what do they need to be done?

Carmel Foster

Yeah.sometimes it's just, somebody will need his mom or dad's love for them and they just want to take a break, which is also called K. So they want to go away for a day. So they want to hire somebody to come and basically babysit or a companion to take the dads for a walk to the park. Those are the types of people.it could also be wanting a nanny to come in every day, you know or in the afternoon pick up a child or not from school and, you know, help them with their homework. 

Andy Audate

So, so pretty much anything around the house, anything around the house, you can hire them as a worker for it to support you. And what you're asking them is to say, Hey, give them an opportunity to have a stable position with you.And in addition to that, give them an opportunity to build references by registering them through my character, reference with Carmel and giving them an opportunity to even take care of their social security, to support them in the long run. Because recognizing that they're also people for those people who are listening, you know, this is going to be on YouTube, iTunes, Spotify, and things of that nature. But those people who are interested in doing business with you and working with you, what is the best way to get in contact with. 

Carmel Foster

The best way to do it is to go to my character.references.com. 

Andy Audate

My character references.com. Once again, that's my character references.com. And thank you so much carmel for being on this show. I can't wait to see you on stage coming is going to be speaking on the progression conference store she'll be spent and should be sharing more about her strategies.I promise she's growing her business as well as about the opportunities to work with her and her clients as well as opportunity for her clients to serve you. In your home. Thank you so much carmel for being on the show.

Carmel Foster

Thank you Andy

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