I’ve been with them for 3years. They treat me like family. They are paying for my plane ticket, all expenses, we r staying w/wife’s relatives who live in a mansion - I will have my own room & private bathroom, use of their pool. They feel that paying me half of my normal wage for the 2 weeks is fair.
is it?
I wish I could like this comment a thousand times. You are spot on.
If the clients refuse, then you don't go with them. Take the two weeks off yourself and do something else.
Here's the thing about them treating you like 'family'. You are not family. You are an employee. They may be very nice people and you may also be, but the business end of a relationship has to be kept separate from the niceties, and the being just like one of the family.
Full wages, or you don't go.
Does the cost of plane ticket, all your meals, hotel type room equal the other half of your wages? If so, then it sounds like an even swap.
Enjoy your trip :)
You may wish to be with your family on your hours off.
Some people even get time and a half when they are "deployed" for to travel for their jobs.
You have to be away from your own family and can't take care of your own responsibilities for that time. Your pay should reflect that.
A couple of members run their own business, hopefully they will chime in.
The vacation 'schedule' should be exactly the same as their regular work schedule. Same time and days off and the same pay.
No half-pay nonsense. Full pay or they find a different caregiver to go with them.
Just because someone is a "power of attorney" doesn't mean that they are an attorney or have any legal training or legal knowledge. IMO this POA is merely attempting to baffle you with bullsh*t, for the benefit of the family.
Family is attempting to take advantage of you. Do not agree to this reduction in pay. You deserve your entire wages.
Let them know immediately that you've reconsidered, and that you won't agree to travel with them unless they pay you full wages for 24/7 while they travel. And even if they verbally agree to pay you full wages, come to think of it, I think there's a 50 50 chance they will not pay you full wages after you get home. They'll have some excuse, and you'll have to take legal action to get the withheld wages.
Perhaps the best strategy after all is to come up with a believable excuse why you can't travel with them (and don't even mention the wage issue at all) for example: a relative is ill and needs your help at home, you can't find a good pet sitter, you've been called on jury duty, you have a health condition you need to get medical care for, something that they won't question. If you don't bring up the wage issue, they won't be resentful. Tell them this as soon as possible, so that the family will have time to make other arrangements while they travel.
Good luck.