• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Personal Support Worker HQ

Resource for Personal Support Workers in Ontario

PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER HQ #1 RESOURCE FOR PSWs IN ONTARIO

  • Home
  • Free Courses
  • Online Options
  • Résumés
  • Interview
  • Jobs
  • PSW to Nurse
  • About
  • Contact

Ultimate Guide to PSW Salary in Ontario

By Avtar on 44

According to the Department of Employment and Social Development in Canada, the PSW salary in Ontario is “among the highest” in its category of occupations in support of healthcare workers from across Canada.

Having said that, the Personal Support Worker salary varies depending upon where you work.

This is the single most deciding factor of how much you can earn as a PSW.

These are the three primary settings where PSWs work:

  • Hospitals (about 7%),
  • Long-Term Care (about 57%), and
  • Community (about 36%)

In general, Hospitals are the highest paying followed by City-owned Long-Term Care homes.

Check out the following infographic with details about PSW Salary in Ontario
PSW-Salary

There are other factors too that might affect your salary.

However, they might not have as much of an impact on how much you get paid:

  • Experience
  • Location (City)
  • Continuing education
  • Certain skills that are required by the employer
  • Ability to speak read and write another language

PSW SALARY ENHANCEMENT

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced in April 2014, a “PSW Wage Enhancement Initiative” as part of the PSW Workforce Stabilization Strategy. 

The purpose of this wage enhancement initiative was to increase PSW Salary by up to $4 per hour over three years. 

This salary increase, however, applies only to Personal Support Workers who work in the community and provide “publically funded” personal support services. 

With this increase, as of April 01, 2016, all PSWs providing services that are publically funded must be getting a minimum of $16.50 per hour. 

WHAT ARE PUBLICALLY FUNDED PSW SERVICES?

 In Ontario, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care provide local health services through the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs).

When someone needs care in the community, LHINs determine if the type of care required is eligible for government-funded services. 

If it is, LHINs Case Managers, also called Integrated Care Coordinators, liaise with providers (agencies) to arrange for PSWs to provide such care. 

It is this care that you provide qualifies as “publically funded” and warrants a minimum wage of $16.50 from your employing agency.

If you work in the following settings and your Personal Support Services are funded by LHIN, you qualify for a base rate of $16.50:

  • Adult day programs,
  • Overnight respite, and 
  • Provide services as part of the Centre of Independent Living in Toronto.

THE TIMELINE OF PSW SALARY INCREASE

Government’s PSW wage enhancement directive aimed to bring minimum wage of PSWs providing publically funded personal support services in the community to $16.50 by April 01, 2016. 

 Here’s how this increase was rolled out:

Date of EffectIncreaseMinimum Hourly Salary
April 1, 2014$1.50$14.00
April 1, 2015$1.50$15.50
April 1, 2016$1.50$16.50

DID YOU GET THE RAISE?

As per the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, 95% of employers (agencies) that hire PSWs for providing publically funded home care services, followed ministry directives.

The remaining 5% of agencies did not give PSWs the raise as mandated by the ministry. 

The ministry is aware of these employers and is taking steps to bring them into compliance.

If you’re not getting the base hourly rate from your employer and believe you’re eligible for the wage increase, you have the right to speak to your employer to determine your eligibility.  

PSWs WAGE ENHANCEMENT TO $19

PSWs working with community care agencies that are associated with LIHNs can expect to be paid $19 per hour.

This is over and above the base wage of $16.50 that is in effect from April 01, 2016.

As part of the PSW Workforce Stabilization strategy, the government continued it’s commitment to enhancing wages for PSWs working in the community and providing publically funded care.

An extension of this strategy is the new PSW salary of upto a maximum of $19 per hour.

Here are the three main directives of this extension regarding PSW salary. As previously stated, it only applies to Personal Support Workers providing publically funded care in the community.

  • The base PSW salary is set to $16.50 per hour,
  • Hourly wage increase of $1.00 per hour to a maximum of $19 per hour, retroactive to April 1, 2016, and
  • The employer must maintain this hourly salary for the duration of your employment.

Also, note that the $19 per hour wage applies only to hours spent doing direct client care. 

It does not include the hours you spend traveling or for training and education purposes.

You must also be aware of the stipulation that your employer must honor any future wage increases as per your collective agreement or the employment contract. 

Your employer must honor the new increase in your wages. 

The compliance is mandatory and applies whether you’re a temporary, casual, part-time or full-time employee. 

PSW SALARY INCREASE AND ENHANCEMENT EXPLAINED

It can be tricky to get your head around and figure out how much you should be paid.

Here’s another take to help you understand this.

All Personal Support Workers who work with community care agencies and provide services eligible for public funding must be getting $16.50 per hour as of April 01, 2016. 

On top of this, a further enhancement applies to your pay as of April 01, 2016 resulting in a maximum wage of up to $19.00 per hour. 

This enhancement is part of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s broader “PSW Workforce Stabilization Strategy”.

This strategy mandates a raise of $1.00 per hour up to a maximum of $19.00 per hour for all Personal Support Workers providing direct personal support services (see below for eligible services) in the home and community care settings.

Here are some example scenarios to help you better understand this:

Base Pay as of April 01, 2016Wage EnhancementNew Hourly Wage
$16.50$1.00$17.50
$17.00$1.00$18.00
$18.00$1.00$19.00
$18.50$0.50$19.00
$19.00$0.00$19.00

As shown in the table above, if you’re getting paid $18.50, only $0.50 will apply as wage enhancement to make your pay to $19.00. 

Similarly, if you’re already at a maximum of $19.00, you’ll not get any enhancement in your hourly rate. 

ELIGIBLE PERSONAL SUPPORT SERVICES?

The $1.00 wage enhancement on top of the base pay of $16.50 per hour applies only to PSWs providing publically funded Personal Support Services.

As per the Home Care and Community Services act, 1994, following are considered Personal Support Services:

1. Personal hygiene activities.

2. Routine personal activities of daily living (ADL’s).

3. Assisting a person with any of the personal hygiene activities or ADL’s.

4. Training a person to carry out or assist with any of the personal hygiene activities or ADL’s.

5. Providing prescribed equipment, supplies or other goods.

6. Services prescribed as personal support services.

Any of the work you do in the community that is not direct care is not eligible for the $1.00 wage enhancement.

As per the Home Care and Community Services act, 1994, following are not considered Personal Support Services:

1. Housecleaning

2. Doing laundry

3. Ironing

4. Mending

5. Shopping

6. Banking

7. Paying bills

8. Planning menus

9. Preparing meals

10. Caring for children

11. Assisting a person with any of the activities mentioned above

12. Training a person to carry out or assist with any of the activities mentioned above

13. Providing prescribed equipment, supplies or other goods.

14. Services prescribed as homemaking services

DID YOU NOT GET THE WAGE ENHANCEMENT?

There might be two scenarios under which you’ve not been given an enhancement to the $16.50 base pay, despite the fact that the care you provide is publically funded.

EMPLOYER PARTICIPATION

One of the reason could be that your employer did not participate in Government’s PSW wage enhancement program. 

In this case, there is nothing much you can do. 

It was your employer’s decision to not participate and accept the funding to provide you a wage enhancement. 

You can question your employer though. 

NON-COMPLIANCE

Other reason could be that your employer is non-compliant with government’s directives. 

You see, agencies that participated in the wage enhancement program were to provide a “Certificate of Compliance” to the Ministry through the LIHN they are associated with. 

The deadline to provide this certificate was August 15, 2016. 

You have the right to question your employer on this as well. 

PSWs THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RAISE

Please note that the wage enhancement initiative is only for PSWs working in the community (that provide LHIN funded care) and does not apply to PSWs working in:

  • hospitals,
  • long-term care homes, or
  • providing private care in the community. 

PSWs providing services that are not “Personal Support Services” are also not eligible for the raise. 

Some examples of non-Personal Support Services are:

  • Homemaking,
  • Grocery shopping.
  • Companionship, and
  • Light housekeeping etc.

PSW PAY RATE BY REGION

Ontario is the second largest province in Canada and is the most populated. 

It is divided into many regions including the vast north and the densely populated south. 

PSWs provide services in every nook and corner of Ontario in the form of community care or care in facility-based settings. 

In the community, PSWs wage depends on the requirements of the job, work conditions, type of care needed, location and the availability. 

The market report for Personal Support Workers, a comprehensive wage analysis by the Government of Ontario, provides a breakdown of PSW wages in different regions of Ontario. 

Check out the details below:

HOSPITAL PAY RATE FOR PSWs

Hospitals are starting to hire Personal Support Workers in many inpatient units. 

The pay for PSWs working in Ontario hospitals can be in the upwards of $22 per hour. 

For most of the part-time positions, you also earn a certain percentage in lieu of benefits. 

For example, Brampton Civic Hospital pays a maximum of $22.75 per hour and 14% in lieu of benefits. 

As a result of the in lieu pay, your hourly rate becomes $25.93! 

Here’s a list of average pay rates for PSWs from some of the Ontario hospitals:

HospitalAverage Salary per hour
Toronto Rehab$22.04
St. Joseph's, Toronto$23.62
Baycrest, Toronto$21.86
St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto$24.49
North York General Hospital$19.86
Brampton Civic Hospital$23.13
Etobicoke General Hospital$23.13
Providence Healthcare$22.98
Lakeridge Health, Oshawa$23.22
Hamilton General Hospital$24.71
Markham Stouffville Hospital$21.59
Norfolk General Hospital$22.04
Atikokan General Hospital$21.56
Queensway Carleton Hospital, Ottawa$22.37

LONG-TERM CARE/NURSING HOME PAY RATE

More than 50% of Ontario Personal Support Workers work in Long-term care and Nursing homes. 

Out of all the Long-term care homes in Ontario:

  • 57% are privately owned, 
  • 24% are managed by the non-profit/charitable organization, and
  • 7% are owned and operated by the municipalities. 

All these facilities are publically funded and regulated by the provincial government. 

PSWs get paid the most with Long-term care homes operated by the municipalities. 

Depending on the size, each municipality operates several long-term care homes. For example, the City of Toronto operates 10 Long-term care homes. 

Privately owned long-term care homes usually do not disclose the salary until you’re hired. 

Here are some examples of what you can expect to get paid as a PSW when working in a Long-term care homes:

Region/Munciaplity/Long-Term Care HomeAverage Hourly Pay Rate
Region of Peel$24.33
York Region$26.83
Region of Waterloo$24.82
Elgin County$23.46
Niagara Region$23.27
County of Simcoe$20.64
Halton Region$23.38
City of London$23.01
City of Thunder Bay$22.30
City of Sudbury$24.86
County of Essex$23.09

As is evident, PSW salary is fairly competitive and is expected to get even better.

You see, Ontario Healthcare system is stressed by the rising healthcare costs.

To prevent the situation from worsening further, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has developed “Healthcare Action Plan ” which aims at increasing home and community care funding.  

Considering the fact that 70% of home and community care in Ontario is provided by Personal Support Workers and Community Support Workers, there will be more jobs for these healthcare workers.

But due to attrition of existing workforce and multifold increase in the number of seniors requiring care, it will be hard to catch-up with the demand for PSW’s.

Due to above mentioned antagonistic forces, PSW’s are going to be in high demand but there won’t be enough of them to fulfill that demand.

This means only one thing: Personal Support Workers salary will go up.

EXAMPLES OF PAY RATE

There is a wide array of pay scales for Personal Support Workers. Here are some of the examples of hourly pay offered by employers on Ontario. These snapshots have been taken from PSW job descriptions posted by various employees. 

For facility-based care through employment agencies

Pay offered for PSW job with employment agency

 

For Home/Residential Care through employment agencies

Pay offered for PSW working in Home Care - PS

 

Independent/Private Long-Term Care homes (Nursing homes)

Pay offered for PSW job with Long-term care home in Toronto - Leisureworld - PS

 

City-owned Long-Term Care homes (Nursing homes)

Pay offered for PSW job with Region of Peel - PS

 

Hospitals

Pay offered for PSW in Hospitals - PS

If you’re not getting the enhanced salary from your employer, we would like to hear from you. 

Provide your scenario in the comments section below. You don’t have to include any of your personal details or name the employer. 

If you found this article helpful, please consider sharing it!

Get FREE Updates

We help Personal Support Workers to be their best! Get tips on courses, jobs, continuing education, and much more.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carrol says

    December 9, 2013 at 11:20 am

    Great information!
    It really helped me get some prospective on what PSW’s make.
    Thanks.

    Reply
    • Avtar says

      June 28, 2015 at 8:47 am

      Carrol, glad to know the information was helpful.

      Reply
  2. Bonnie Koreen says

    April 2, 2014 at 11:44 am

    What is the average pay for a privately hired PSW in a home setting?

    Reply
    • Avtar says

      April 4, 2014 at 5:16 am

      Thanks for your comment Bonnie.
      For working in the community, PSW’s typically get paid anywhere upwards of $12.5/hour. This is the minimum. In general, it varies greatly and depends on many factors such as the employer and experience. Some employers compensate for travel while others don’t.
      For Personal Support Workers who provide private care, the pay depends upon what has been negotiated between the family and the PSW.
      There is a huge amount of disparity that exists between PSW’s working in the home care sector and those who work in hospitals and long-term care homes.

      Reply
  3. Alice Corbiere says

    January 12, 2015 at 2:26 pm

    No mention on what wages should be on First Nation Reserves!!! I’ve been a psw for 5 yrs and no wage increases, except for COLA, of course. People are starting to realize that we should get a pay increase straight across the booad, not just the cities!!!!!!

    Reply
  4. md says

    April 15, 2015 at 11:35 am

    St. Elizabeth of Thunder Bay claims they never received any govt. money and refuses to pay it’s employees the extra.

    Reply
    • Avtar says

      July 1, 2015 at 11:06 am

      md, although Government promised $4 raise for PSWs last year over a three year old period however, it’s implementation has been marred with many problems.

      Ministry of Health is aware of this situation and has acknowledged this. It is working on this issue to streamline the wage increase process.

      Reply
  5. Cortney says

    April 29, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    I am currently a homecare psw in the Niagara region, when should we expect to see the $1.50 raise we have been given this year?

    Is there a possibility that by April 2016, the base wage could be more than $16.50 for homecare psw workers or is that asking for too much?

    Reply
    • Avtar says

      June 28, 2015 at 8:54 am

      Cortney, last year Liberal government had promised a $4 raise over a period of 3 years.
      While the first phase of this raise ($1.50) was rolled out last year however there has been many issues related to that. Government is scrambling to fix all the issues related to the first raise and therefore have put the 2nd pay raise on hold for now.
      As per the latest press release on this issue, Government plans to announce pay raise “very soon”.
      Visit this section frequently to check for future updates.

      Reply
      • LYNNE says

        July 8, 2015 at 1:20 pm

        Is there a cap on government raise, if you make over $16.50 will you still get the $1.50 raise?

        Reply
        • Avtar says

          July 10, 2015 at 7:02 am

          Lynne, this is not something that is very clear yet.
          Government is working on sorting everything out. That is why the $1.50 raise that was supposed to be rolled out on April 1st, has been postponed to August 1st, 2015.

          Check out this page for future updates.

          Reply
  6. Vinia O. Marquez says

    September 2, 2015 at 1:56 am

    Hello,

    My office mate told me yesterday that a PSW gets a salary of $20/hour right after graduation..i.e. no experience. Somehow I don’t believe it but he was pretty adamant that it is indeed the starting rate..

    Reply
  7. Victoria says

    September 17, 2015 at 10:04 pm

    Just wondering what is going to happen to the pay rate after next years possible $1? Will we continue to get raises afterwards or just stay at the max of $19 for years to come?

    Reply
  8. Cheryl Henry says

    June 4, 2018 at 8:44 am

    I am working in retirement in Ottawa, but the company started in TO area. Our company in Ottawa has the first assisted living, and this where I do most of my work. Do you have any info regarding the wages for retirement. Thanks

    Reply
    • Avtar says

      June 5, 2018 at 6:17 am

      Cheryl…PSW wages in retirement homes wary.
      The “PSW Wage Enhancement” initiative by the Ministry of Health applies only to PSWs working in the community and providing LHIN funded care.

      Reply
  9. Annabelle says

    June 4, 2018 at 4:53 pm

    How do I know if my employer is publically funded in order to get paid $19.00.

    Reply
    • Avtar says

      June 5, 2018 at 6:15 am

      Annabelle…just ask your employer. They should be able to tell you.
      …Avtar

      Reply
  10. Annabelle says

    June 4, 2018 at 4:55 pm

    How do I know if my employer is part of LHIN? Would I receive $16.50/hr or $19.00/hr. Confused as to where I stand.

    Reply
    • Avtar says

      June 5, 2018 at 6:14 am

      Annabelle…$16.50 per hour is the base pay if you work in the community and provide LHIN funded care.
      $19 per hour is what you should get as part of the “PSW Wage Enhancement”.
      You can question your employer whether they’re participating in the wage enhancement for PSWs.
      …Avtar

      Reply
      • Lynn Stewart says

        June 6, 2018 at 10:54 am

        Hello Avtar
        I have a question on the wage enhancement. Im a registered PSW working in the community for a company I don’t need to name. The company works with LIHN and has been involved in the 4.00 Wage enhancement 2016…my question is:
        How can I verify whether or not my company applied for the “PSW Wage Enhancement” of 19.00 ? Could I find out directly from another source LIHN ? … Im not sure I trust my company to reply ..When was this “PSW Wage Enhancement” effective.
        will it be direct funding from LIHN ie topup of 3.50; 16.50 from company plus 3.50 “wage enhancement” from (LIHN). our pay was ie 12.92 plus 4.00 pay enhancement. then 14.00 base rate pay 2.92 wage enhancement…?? head office said it was an error should be reg pay of 16.92 …

        Reply
        • Avtar says

          June 6, 2018 at 2:19 pm

          Lynn…Agencies or organizations that provide Personal Support Services are listed by each LHIN. Organizations that deliver small volumes of services, or who are engaged infrequently, may not be listed.
          These lists can be found on the website of each LHIN.

          Wage enhancement is effective as of April 01, 2016.

          It provides for all PSWs providing LHIN funded hours of Personal Support Services in Home and Community Care sector are eligible to receive the $1.00 wage increase up to a maximum of $19.00 per hour. PSWs earning
          $19.00 per hour and above as of April 1, 2016, are not be eligible for the increase.

          As per the ministry directives, PSWs eligible for this wage increase were to be provided with written notification of their new hourly wage rate by their employer by no later than July 1, 2016.
          You should speak to your employer directly to determine your eligibility.

          Reply
      • Stella says

        September 12, 2018 at 11:24 pm

        Avatar, I am a psw in Sudbury and gets $16.50 with 34 cents a km with no travel time. It’s difficult to get a decent pay and most of us quit to work at $14 so we can get more by working a 8 hour shift compared to driving around for 10 hours to make the same amount. My employer does get LHINs funding but just keeps hiring weekly. They’re now hiring at $1200 sign on bonus for PSWs and doing nothing to help me and the others who are struggling to stay at a job we love but can’t pay our bills on. Their only answer is put extra hours in because they have many clients to cover.

        Reply
        • Avtar says

          September 14, 2018 at 6:23 am

          Stella, I hear you!
          Personal Support is such a beautiful professional and there are many like you who love being a PSW and helping others.
          Unfortunately, though, this profession lack oversight and as a result, many employment agencies cringe on their duty towards their employees.
          The Government of Ontario has been trying to bring some sort of order to this profession albeit quite slowly.
          PSW Registry of Ontario was launched recently but as you said, PSWs need much more than that!

          Reply
          • Stella says

            December 6, 2018 at 11:56 am

            Avatar, I am trying to understand the wage enhancement but having a hard time. I was with this company in 2017 and how they put it on my paystub is regular hours $15.46 and wage enhancement $1.04 to make it $16.50? Would this be correct?
            Also what was happening I was constantly sent to places where no one was home and was told I could not get a full pay because it would not be fair to the llyn but I found my paystubs to have more of the $1.04 hours pay than my regular pay at $15.46 and when confronted they now only show my pay as regular at 16.50 without wage enhancement so I cannot see their mistakes. What can I do about this?
            My pays are $700 every 2 weeks and hard to live on

  11. Suzanne Struthers says

    June 4, 2018 at 5:16 pm

    I work in a community hospital full time and make a little less than the minimum wage of 22.23

    Reply
  12. Kim says

    June 18, 2018 at 6:51 pm

    Hello,
    How exactly does the “PSW Wage Enhancement” work? The company I work for states they gave us the base wage increase to $16.50 but that is all they have to do. They say no where does it state that there is a top up to bring our wage to $19 yet I have seen pay stubs from other companies that have “wage enhancement” on it.

    Does the wage enhancement mean that if my base wage is $16.50 the “wage enhancement” would top up $2.50 to total $19??? If so who pays the top up and how does my company get the funding??

    Is there a contact person the company I work for could call for more information?

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Avtar says

      June 19, 2018 at 6:33 am

      Kim…$16.50 is the base pay for PSWs working in the community and providing direct patient care.
      Wage enhancement up to $19 per hour is an extension of the “PSW wage enhancement” initiative which is part of the Government’s “PSW workforce stabilization strategy”.
      All PSWs providing publically funded personal support services in the home and community care are eligible for this enhancement of up to $19 per hour.

      The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care provide funding to the local LHINs which in turn support the agencies(service providers) to implement the wage enhancement.

      Please note that the ministry mandates a $1.00 wage increase up to a maximum of $19 per hour for PSWs providing direct care in the home and community care settings. This is explained in the article above.

      In a nutshell, if you’re getting the base pay of $16.50 per hour, you should be getting a $1 per hour increase under the following circumstances:

      • Your employer provides LHIN funded personal support services
      • Your work involves providing direct patient care in the home and community care settings

      If you provide services that are not “Personal Support Services”, you’ll not be eligible for this $1 raise on top of the $16.50 base pay.

      Reply
      • Kim says

        June 19, 2018 at 6:43 am

        Thank you for the information.

        Reply
        • Avtar says

          June 19, 2018 at 7:05 am

          No problem Kim.
          You can check out the article above to see which are considered as “Personal Support Services” in the community and what services do not qualify for the wage enhancement.

          Reply
          • Kim Rousse says

            June 26, 2018 at 5:10 pm

            Hi Avtar
            Any recommendations as to whom I could contact to clarify exactly how much I should be getting paid? I would forward the information to the company I work for as they are adamant that the $16.50 base pay they are currently giving us since April 2016 is all that the PSW wage enhancement is. We definitely provide LHIN funded personal support services as on my hours on my pay stubs are under CCAC when we see clients.
            Thank you
            Kim

          • Avtar says

            June 28, 2018 at 7:12 am

            Kim…the Ministry of Health and Long-term care issued a “Directive Addendum” back in 2016 regarding the $1.00 raise on top of the base pay of $16.50.

            Mandatory requirements under the addendum are:

             Sets a minimum base wage of $16.50 per hour for individuals providing LHIN funded personal support services.
             Requires an hourly wage increase of $1.00 per hour up to a maximum of $19.00 per hour for individuals providing LHIN funded personal support services retroactive to April 01, 2016.
             Requires employers to maintain hourly wage increases established in the Directive for the duration of that individual’s employment.
            This 2016 Directive Addendum only applies to direct hours of work providing LHIN funded personal support services and does not apply to indirect hours of work (e.g. sick time, training time, travel time).

            You can download the complete document here.

            Hope the Ministry issues document will provide clarify this further.
            Let me know if you have any further questions.

  13. FlatBroke says

    June 26, 2018 at 7:05 pm

    Hello,
    I was an unlicensed Personal Home Care Aide (Statistics Canada NOC 4412 title code) for my parent between 2005 through to 2015 providing 24/7 Live-In Care. I have performed an exhaustive search for the Annual Salary figures for my profession using the Statistics Canada website to no avail. Since I did not possess the formal PSW Training, should I use the respective Toronto minimum-wage to calculate my respective annual salary for each year that I cared for my father ? Do I assume the standard 12-hour shift per day ? I live in Toronto, Ontario. Do you have access to the Annual Salaries of unlicensed Personal Home Care Aides in Ontario ? Toronto ? If so, please provide this link. I am trying to value my time as I did not work for a PSW Agency as i personally sacrificed my career to take care of my ailing parent. My annual taxable income always had an empty value for Line 104 (employment income) on the T1 returns because I dedicated my time to the ailing parent. Thus, what is the opportunity cost of my time for taking care of my ailing parent ? MINIMUM WAGE assuming 12-hour shift per day ? Thank You !

    Reply
    • Avtar says

      June 28, 2018 at 7:15 am

      FlatBroke…thank you for your question.
      I would suggest you discuss your situation with an accountant.
      They can help you figure this out.

      Reply
  14. FlatBroke says

    June 26, 2018 at 7:31 pm

    2nd Part, cont’d….. How do you value the below services to an ailing parent ? I was an unlicensed Personal Home Care Aide for 10 years. Minimum wage at 12-hr shift per day ? If the below services are not considered Personal Support Services, what are they ? Taking care of my dying parent was a FULL-TIME JOB to which I never received compensation. I sacrificed my career, marriage, and have no pension. Do you have any financial figures that you could post or send to me in a private e-mail to financially value my time ? I did everything that a PSW did as well as the below functions. Thanks !

    As per the Home Care and Community Services act, 1994, following are not considered Personal Support Services:

    1. Housecleaning

    2. Doing laundry

    3. Ironing

    4. Mending

    5. Shopping

    6. Banking

    7. Paying bills

    8. Planning menus

    9. Preparing meals

    10. Caring for children

    11. Assisting a person with any of the activities mentioned above

    12. Training a person to carry out or assist with any of the activities mentioned above

    13. Providing prescribed equipment, supplies or other goods.

    14. Services prescribed as homemaking services

    Reply
  15. Joshua says

    July 2, 2018 at 11:43 am

    I am a Self-Manager with the Direct Funding Program with CILT and they include these as Personal Support Services as I am responsible for directing my care. I am a quadriplegic and can’t do many of these things. These are some of the reasons why I need my staff, so this is Real Personal Care. Everyone is paid, respected and treated fairly… Just like I expect to be!

    Reply
  16. KATHY HORVATH says

    July 26, 2018 at 1:09 pm

    I work for a company that cares for disabled persons in an independent living program.
    We are called Support Service Attendants. Along with the regular PSW duties, we are highly trained by nurses to provide medical services to our clients, including:
    digital stim, bladder irrigation, insulin injections, medication administration, trach suctioning, as well as range of motion exercises. My question is, because we do actual nursing duties, why is it that we only get paid the same as other PSW’s that are not required to perform these routines?

    Reply
    • Avtar says

      July 30, 2018 at 10:03 am

      Kathy…thank you for your comment. It brings forward an issue that is always at the epicenter of the career as a Personal Support Worker.
      PSW salaries are primarily established by the employer you’re working for or if you’re working in a unionized setting, such as a hospital or a nursing home, the salaries are mandated by the contract the union negotiates with the employer.
      As in your case, the employer seems to be mandating the salary based on the type of duties you perform.

      Reply
  17. Wendy says

    December 2, 2018 at 7:24 am

    Have there been any plans to reassess the $19.00 cap? So far it has not even been increased by cost of living. So, despite receiving hours of service raises, as well as company wide increases, my net has stayed the same for years. I get a $1.00 raise From my employer, the MOH just reduces the same amount in my wage enhancement. Seems very short sighted.

    Reply
  18. Tracey says

    August 28, 2019 at 4:57 pm

    I’m a community psw working for a very well known company that only pays new psws a base 14.57 and the wage enhancement brings it to 16.50. I thought that the minimum base is supposed to be 16.50?
    Any time we have a base wage increase they take the money off of the wage enhancement so that I’m still making 16.50. I’ve been with this company since beginning of 2018 and I worked for them in 2016 for a short time and they paid $19 then.
    I don’t understand why people that were hired in 2016 make 2.50 an hour more than one hired in 2018. I’m never going to make as much as the other psws and I’m working for the same company doing the exact same work.
    First, why do they get away with such a low base pay if it’s supposed to be 16.50? Second, where is my wage enhancement going if I’m not getting it? This company has been in union negotiations since March 2019, they refuse to pay more than they are. I know there are other companies that pay more but I do really love my job and care about the people I see every day and I don’t want to have to start all over again and I shouldn’t have to. They should be paying us the same as they are paying the other psws.

    Reply
  19. Mandy says

    September 25, 2019 at 7:18 pm

    I am a PSW funded by the LHIN working in homecare. Upon my hire in October 1018 I was making a base wage of$14.57 an hour with a government grant of $1.93 an hour to bring my wage to $16.50. I just received a base wage increase of 0.29 an hour bringing my base wage to $14.86 an hour, but my government grant also decreased the same amount of 0.29 an hour, going from $1.93 down to $1.64, which still leaves me at a total of $16.50 an hour. I thought my base wage was supposed to be $16.50 an hour BEFORE the government grant?

    Reply
  20. June Langlois says

    April 17, 2020 at 3:59 pm

    Who governs the agencies to make sure they are paying the proper wages to their employees? I started working with an agency back in 05, 2016, my start rate should have already been 17.50 per hour but I was paid $16. Then it went up to $17 per hour on 09/16. It stayed at that rate until 07/19. I’m I not owed back pay for all those hours I was shorted? Who do we contact to have this settled. Thanks for your time June.

    Reply
  21. Dolly Trin says

    November 17, 2020 at 10:59 pm

    can my employer cut back my psw hours so that I am not working overtime? he want me to work only 8 hour not 12, so i lose overtime .

    Reply
    • Avtar says

      November 19, 2020 at 7:45 am

      Hi Dolly,
      Employers usually adjust assigned shifts and working hours as per the needs of the organization and are often according to the organizational policy and/or union contracts. It is best to check with your employer or the union(if applicable).
      Avtar

      Reply
  22. Wendy says

    February 25, 2021 at 9:52 am

    Some serious investigation needs to be done into PSW pay here in Ontario and across the country. My niece, age 20 graduated the PSW course in 2020. Her first job at a retirement home paid $14 hr, she quit when she got a job in a hospital at a starting rate of $24 hr. Plus benefits which include paid sick days and a pension plan.
    My daughter, single, age 46 has been a PSW for 20 years and works with a company that does community care and caps the PSW wage at $19 no matter how long they have worked at the company or how experienced they are. If she gets sick, too bad. No work no pay. She does get a small health benefit that helps pay for medication. But considering she has to be out in all kinds of weather and must drive a reliable vehicle there is a good case for looking at the fairness in the way these PSWs are paid.
    Yes she could quit and go to a hospital but where would that leave people in the community that need help.
    Is it surprising that a good number of PSWs quit during their first year after qualifying?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Become an Awesome PSW

We help Personal Support Workers to be their best! Get tips on courses, jobs, continuing education, and much more.

Come Hang Out With Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Government Funded FREE PSW Program

  HTML tutorial

Featured Jobs

  • Personal Support Worker

    • Etobicoke
    • Private Care
    • Part Time

Must Read

Personal Support Worker Interview Questions – PART 1

Sample Personal Support Worker Résumé

PSW Training Online Course by The University of Toronto

Personal Support Worker (PSW) to Practical Nurse (PN) Bridging Programs

All You Need to Know About the New PSW Registry of Ontario

Government’s New Crown Agency and What it Means for PSWs

Hospitals That Offer PSW Jobs in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area

Thirteen Qualities Required to Succeed as a Personal Support Worker

Ultimate Guide to PSW Salary in Ontario

All You Need To Know About Online PSW Courses

Recent Posts

  • Registration Now Open: The Government Funded PSW Program – PART 2
  • Tips for Being an Effective Long-Distance Caregiver
  • Personal Support Worker Interview Questions – PART 1
  • Ontario District School Boards that Offer PSW Programs
  • Sample Personal Support Worker Résumé
  • PSW Training Online Course by The University of Toronto
  • Free PSW Course or Options with Minimal Fees
  • Government of Canada’s Free Online PSW Training Program
  • Government of Ontario’s PSW Work For Life Initiative
  • Government of Ontario’s New Resident Support Aide Program

Are You Looking to Boost Your Résumé?

Use this template to design one of your own.

Click Here to download a FREE copy!

  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Smart Passive Income Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in