Staff working at Idea Services community homes for the disabled say the $34 per night for 'sleepovers' is too low.
In the Employment Court on Tuesday, Levin support worker Philip Dickson said support staff worked the 10-hour shift - known as a sleepover - on top of their full-time roster to top up their wages.
Service and Food Workers Union lawyer Peter Cranney said employees are working during sleepovers and should be paid the minimum wage of $12.50 per hour.
He says the sleepovers put them in a position of responsibility and mean they are at work 80 to 90 hours a week.
But Idea Services Waikato area manager Veronica Hemma told the court that support staff were rarely disturbed during sleepovers.
She said that if they were woken, they were paid hourly during that time.
Idea Services lawyer Michael Quigg says the case could have significant implications for the labour costs faced by Idea Services.
The case is expected to finish on Wednesday.
