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How to Hire a Full-Time Nanny

Nannys often gain insight into aspects of family life that no one else knows about, including marital troubles, infidelity, or abuse. Navigating these situations requires considerable tact and professionalism. The Interesting Info about Peekaboo Nannies.

Families should pay their nannies accordingly, taking into account their experience and responsibilities. Furthermore, they should offer paid vacation leave.

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Duties

A nanny can be an invaluable asset to the family who hires one, providing care for children’s laundry, running errands for parents, and performing other household tasks such as playdates or school events.

Nanny responsibilities should be laid out in a work agreement between employer and nanny, including details regarding the children’s schedule, hours per week of service, duties expected of her, and when. From the very start, your nanny should understand these expectations so there are no surprises later on.

Some families expect their nanny to do more housekeeping tasks than others, such as washing and drying the children’s laundry, vacuuming/sweeping/sweeping floors/cleaning the kitchen/bathroom and recycling bins as well as emptying garbage/recycling bins. It is important to discuss this before hiring one; as it could impact their compensation.

As is necessary when hiring a nanny, we must clarify which tasks the nanny won’t be responsible for. Some nannies may be expected to do all of the parents’ laundry while others won’t. Some may be expected to go grocery shopping weekly while others won’t – something which should be discussed beforehand with her as this will impact her pay and benefits.

Nannies often need to transport children between school, activities, and appointments; as well as run errands for their parents. Additionally, nannies may also need to cook meals or prepare snacks for their charges, in addition to taking them to doctor’s appointments and dentist visits.

Depending upon her employer, a nanny may live either within the family home or nearby in her apartment. A nanny might also participate in a nanny share program where they work simultaneously for two families at once. Flexible work arrangements and working from home might make nannies more affordable for some families; however, full-time nannies must still receive a salary as well as pay taxes on earnings.

Hours

Full-time nannies may work 25-40 hours each week depending on your family’s needs, with average hours typically falling within this range. Before hiring one, discuss their normal schedule and any daily responsibilities you expect them to perform with them. Also, keep in mind that under FLSA they are considered non-exempt employees; thus any hours worked beyond 40 must be compensated at least double time (at least time and a half).

Not all families enlist their nanny as only a caregiver; some families require them to also perform housework and other duties such as grocery shopping, picking up dry cleaning, and making dinner dishes. Although this task may not have been your main motivation for hiring one in the first place, ensure this information is laid out in your nanny contract.

Nannies should have the freedom to take occasional sick days or vacations. Although some states require employers to provide paid sick leave, it is generally best to offer flexible leave for your nanny to remain home when needed and provide you with peace of mind that there will always be backup care for your children should something arise which prevent their ability to work due to illness or an emergency.

Guaranteed hours can help your nanny receive a regular paycheck each week, which may seem confusing since it resembles sending your child to daycare: in exchange for guaranteed hours, your nanny promises that they will be available when necessary.

Nannies who work guaranteed hours often prefer it as it allows them to plan and budget both their personal and childcare-related expenses.

Salary

There are various factors involved in establishing an hourly rate that is fair and competitive for nannies. Family needs, experience level, and regional variations in cost of living will all have an effect. Nannies are highly educated childcare professionals who deserve fair compensation for the invaluable service they provide to the families they work for.

Nannies often perform duties that other household employees are not required to perform, such as washing children’s clothes or clearing away arts and crafts messes. Nannies also may assist with grocery shopping, cooking, or other housekeeping tasks for an additional fee – which could add up quickly over time!

Full-time live-in nannies are on call or “on duty” 50-60+ hours each week to assist with transport to work and provide consistency in a child’s schedule. They typically receive compensation in the form of weekly salary as opposed to hourly rate; typically room and board will also be included as part of their compensation package. Hourly rates for full-time live-in nannies range between $20-25/hour depending upon position duties and experience level of the caregiver.

Nanny rates tend to be higher in major metropolitan areas and cities with high costs of living, where wages and overtime (time and a half for any hours worked over 40 per week) may not cover all expenses. Nannies should receive benefits like health insurance, vacation/holiday pay, transportation expenses reimbursement, etc. in addition to receiving wages.

Nannies must pay taxes on their earnings and may qualify for unemployment insurance should an unexpected layoff occur. Families should ensure communication and negotiation of an equitable compensation package between all parties involved are clear. A payroll service that handles wages and tax withholding is an ideal way to ensure compliance and make the process simpler – plus having one will enable you to determine which nanny rates work best in your specific situation.

Travel

Before hiring a nanny, it is crucial that all travel arrangements for your family be discussed in their contract to avoid confusion or misunderstandings and clearly state that travel is considered part of their job description. Furthermore, be sure that any expectations for them while on vacation have been made known – for instance if they need to stay up late with the kids so you can go out to dinner one night, make sure they understand that’s considered work!

Make it clear that they will be paid for any time spent working during a vacation. A nanny should receive compensation for working the same hours they would at home, including any meals consumed while on duty. Use a timekeeping app on their phone or notebook to track hours; verify them daily with them to prevent surprises at payday time.

Make sure all travel plans for the nanny are thoroughly explained as well. For instance, if taking them abroad on business for several days and expecting them to still care for children while there, make sure they understand that this extra obligation must be compensated appropriately – otherwise, extra hours could add up!

If traveling with a nanny, they must receive private accommodations. Nannies often find traveling without private space to relax uncomfortably; they need somewhere they can retreat when their charge(s) have gone to sleep so they can unwind in peace afterward or connect with loved ones on the phone before drifting off into sleep themselves.

Bear in mind that traveling with a family can be stressful for nannies, and they must be treated as professionals. Without adequate downtime and fair treatment, nannies may quickly burn out; ensure they have all of their downtime needs met so you can all have an enjoyable vacation together!

linda