Tuesday, June 18, 2013

The Answers to 10 Top Nanny Compensation Questions

Writer Kimberly Coleman looked to Deborah L. Smith (DS) the President of Parents With Nannies, Inc. and Kathleen Webb (KW) the co-founder of HomeWork Solutions for expert advice regarding common questions that parents ask regarding nanny pay.

1. What is an appropriate birthday present for a nanny?
(DS) Money is always the most appreciated gift. Birthdays don't have to be quite as expensive as Christmas. It all depends on what you can afford. If you appreciate your nanny, let her know it.

(KW) Birthday gifts vary greatly according to the tastes of the nanny and the means of the employer. Some examples are concert tickets, a spa treatment, camera, gift cards for restaurants/movies/stores, flowers, etc.

2. What is an appropriate holiday (i.e. Christmas) present for a nanny?
(DS) Money is always the most appreciated gift. For Christmas a week or 2 weeks salary plus maybe a small gift to unwrap is appropriate.

(KW) Christmas is an unusual holiday, as many families give a gift similar to the birthday gifts above as well as providing a holiday bonus. Again, the relationship between the nanny and the family and the family's means play roles here. We found in our payroll practice in 2005 that 69% of the families provided a year end bonus payment. 1 - 2 weeks salary was the average span. Amounts ranged from $250 - $5000.

3. Should you pay nannies for holidays when you (and they) don't have to work?
(DS) Yes, most full time nannies get the major holidays off and paid.
(KW) Yes.

4. Should you pay nannies when you are sick and can't work?
(DS) Yes, it is not the nanny's fault that you are sick and can't work. The nanny still has to pay her bills. This should be the rule of thumb for days off that the nanny does not request. If it is the family's choice to go away or to excuse the nanny for a day or two, it is not fair to expect the nanny to do so without pay.
(KW) Yes.

5. Should you pay nannies when your kids are sick and you stay home from work with them?
(DS) Yes. Also, nannies are used to caring for sick children. It is one of the reasons that you hire a nanny.
(KW) Yes.

(KW) (For questions three through five) The golden rule is the best to fall back on in these situations - do unto your nanny as you would have your boss do unto you! In general, the nanny should be paid for every day that they are regularly scheduled to work, whether the family decides to use them or not. A full time nanny will expect to be paid for all holidays when the parents are not at work (July 4th, Christmas, etc.). What these holidays are vary, particularly with the parent's occupations (medical and emergency personnel, airline and hospitality employees might get different holidays).

(KW) (For questions six through eight) Most full time nannies have some vacation and/or sick time negotiated into the employment agreement. Moms beware - the first time you dock your nanny for missing work because they caught your kid's cold could be the last time she works for you. The total paid days is most commonly 10 per year, and flex days are the way things are going. So, the nanny has a pool of 10 flex days she can use for sick time, vacation time, personal time, etc. This will vary among nannies and families - the work agreement is vital here to determine this in advance of the problem.

6. Should you pay nannies when they are sick and can't work?
(DS) I think it is probably advisable to include some sick days in her contract. I have seen numbers from 3 per year to 10 per year. (See more on sick days below)
(KW)Flex.

7. Should you pay nannies when their kids are sick and they have to stay at home from work with them?
(DS) This should constitute a sick day. Many parents have commented to me that they do not specify a number of sick days in there contract, they simply "cover" for nanny if she is sick. I think it is probably advisable to include some sick days in her contract. I have seen numbers from 3 per year to 10 per year. The decision basically depends on how generous you are and your ability to make other arrangements if the nanny gets sick. If you have to pay for expensive "alternate" care when your nanny is ill, you may want to stop the paid sick days at 3. If, on the other hand, you can make arrangements when the nanny is sick and you'd rather not have her bringing her germs around the kids, offer more paid sick days so that she doesn't feel financially obligated to show up to work with strep throat or worse. Some parents require their nanny to work six months to a year before offering paid sick days.
(KW) Flex.

8. Should you pay if your nanny has to miss work for uncontrollable reasons (i.e. death in their family, jury duty, weather prohibitions, and transit strikes)?
(DS) Families should use their own discretion in this matter. Nanny could use a sick day or vacation day. Or, as in my case, I would just pay my nanny if she had to miss a day because her brother died for instance or she got snowed in. It seemed too cruel to dock her pay when these things were beyond her control. This is where the family needs to look at nanny as more than an employee if she has been loyal and conscientious, on time and not taking advantage of time off. My own personal nanny was so dedicated in 3 years that she was never late and only took a few sick days because of stomach flu. There was no reason to dock her pay in my opinion.
(KW) Flex.

9. Should you pay if your nanny needs to go on maternity leave?
(DS) Maternity leave is usually too financial impossible for most families. Some families who love their nanny and want her back will hire a temporary nanny to take her place until she is ready to come back. If the family is financially able to pay maternity leave, then it is up to them. Rule of thumb in all instances...if you love your nanny, do what it takes to keep her.

(KW) Maternity leave is not commonly paid by nanny employers. They may cash out flex days, but that is the extent of it. Nannies also do not always take the 6 - 8 weeks professionals do, but are often back at work within a few weeks with their infant (assuming that was the agreed arrangement when she left).

10. How much vacation time should a nanny receive?
(DS) Nannies get at least one week paid vacation, usually two. Families commonly ask nanny to plan one of those 2 weeks around the family's vacation to save on alternate childcare expenses.
NOTE: All of the above variables should be covered in a Work Agreement between the employer and nanny at the time of hire. Sample agreements that you can use can be found at http://4nanny.com/work_agreement.htm

Kimberly Coleman is the founder of Mom in the City http://www.mominthecity.com a social and support group for expectant moms and moms with children five and under in the New York City metropolitan area. She is also the NYC Metro and Long Island parenting guide for ParentZone.com/BabyZone.com ([http://nyc.parentzone.com] ).
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kimberly_Coleman

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Monday, June 17, 2013

How to Find a Nanny

Source : http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-find-a-good-nanny_5933.bc

The key to find the right caregiver for your child? Be willing to keep looking until you find the person who will be the best fit for your family.

You shouldn't compromise on this issue one bit, so be prepared for a long search. You'll need to be patient and resourceful, and consult everyone from friends and family to online nanny agencies to find possible candidates.

This list may help you find the nanny of your dreams:

Step one: Identify your priorities

First, decide what you want. Talk to your partner about what your ideal nanny would be like. Do you want someone older who's mature and experienced? Is a nanny with a degree in early childhood education your top choice? Make a list you can refer to when you start interviewing applicants or talking to nanny agencies.

Step two: Do your research

Get the word out. Have friends and family let their contacts know you're looking for help – personal references can be the most reassuring. Put a notice in school newsletters and post a flier at local parenting resource centers and even on bulletin boards in gyms, shops, and cafes.

Go to the pros. Find out if there's a nanny training program in your area, then call the staff for referrals. In many communities, nanny and babysitting training programs are run by community centers, charities, and other organizations that may not be easy to find on the Web. Also ask friends and neighbors or call your local community recreation organization.

You can also contact a private nanny placement agency. These firms screen candidates before agreeing to represent them and can help you find candidates who meet your criteria. They verify a nanny's work experience and should check for any driving violations or a criminal record. Some also require nannies to have a physical exam including blood and tuberculosis tests.

You'll have to pay a hefty fee for this service – between $800 and $5,000, depending on where you live and which services you want – but you'll save time.

Go online. Try Web sites such as 4nannies.com and enannysource.comOnline nanny referral services like these – which post listings from parents and prospective nannies – are less costly than local agencies, but not free. Fees range from $20 to $800 or more, depending on how long you keep your listing active and the type of service you need.

Basic services usually include helpful guidelines and forms, with background checks available for additional fees. Some services make you pay a finder's fee. But websites sometimes run promotions to waive fees or offer discounts, so check back from time to time.


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How to Find the Best Nanny for Your Family

Source : http://pregnant.thebump.com/new-mom-new-dad/newborn-basics/articles/how-to-find-good-nanny.aspx

Start Out Right
You can begin your nanny search by asking friends and family for recommendations; by going online to caregiver listings websites, local message boards and college job boards; or by registering with a nanny placement agency. Katie Bugbee, executive editor at caregiver listings website Care.com, recommends that parents give themselves three months to find a nanny. It can take awhile to find someone you love. Plus, it’s not uncommon for there to be heated competition with other families, so the right one could get away, lengthening your search.

Caregiver Listings Sites
Websites that provide listings of prescreened nannies let you in on a lot of information about a caregiver -- such as their experience, availability, salary requirements, background check and references -- to help you decide whether you want to meet them. These are a few popular ones:

Sittercity has a database of over 2 million caregivers, including nannies, babysitters and pet sitters. For $35 a month, $70 for three months or $140 for a year, you can post a job and get access to caregivers’ profiles that include a description of experience, a photo, availability, a background check, references and referrals.
Care.com has a free basic membership that allows users to post a job description and to have access to prescreened caregiver profiles. In order to contact a caregiver and be able to view basic background checks, a user must upgrade to a premium membership for $35 a month. For an additional $59 fee, members can get a comprehensive background check that includes a search of county, state and federal courthouse arrest and conviction records. Want a deal? The Bump readers can use coupon code “thebump2012” for 20 percent off the usual cost of a premium membership (expires March 31).

Nannies4hire.com offers three different member packages. All memberships allow parents to post jobs and view caregiver profiles, save their top picks and conduct an advanced search. Basic membership is $100 for 30 days. For $130, members receive 60 days of access to a multistate criminal history search, and for $200, members receive 99 days of comprehensive background checks.

University Job Boards
Most universities have job boards that allow individuals to post for a position that they’re seeking to fill. If you’re looking for a part-time babysitter or a graduate student who’s available for a full-time nanny position, this may be a good option for you.

Local Message Boards
If there are local message boards for new moms in your area, chances are they’ll feature “nanny available” listings. These are usually posted by moms who are trying to find a new position for a nanny they no longer need. These boards are also an ideal place to put up a “nanny wanted” post. If you live in a small community, the recommendations for nannies that you receive might even come from an acquaintance or a friend of a friend.

Nanny Placement Agencies
Agencies offer the highest level of service, and with that comes a hefty price tag. So what’s the advantage of using an agency? According to Kathleen Webb, cofounder of the company that runs NannyNetwork.com, “Agencies are a great route for families that are pressed for time and especially for first-time nanny employers. The agency can cut 40-plus hours of effort out of the hiring process.” An agency prescreens nannies and interviews couples to get a detailed snapshot of what they’re looking for and will send only those candidates’ portfolios that meet their requirements. Once a nanny is selected, agencies will help their clients prepare the employment offer and work agreement.

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