Hiring A Nanny
Hiring a nanny involves recruiting applicants, interviewing candidates, checking references on viable prospects and doing background screenings on final candidate(s). Once you have identified the candidate you wish to hire, you need to craft your job offer and finalize the terms of their employment.
Recruiting Applicants
How do you find a nanny? You can place ads in a newspaper, physical or internet bulletin boards, recruit through word of mouth, college employment offices or use a professional nanny placement agency. Nanny placement agencies can match pre-screened and qualified applicants with your job description and will help you throughout the interview process. Many agency owners are members of The International Nanny Association or The Association of Premier Nanny Agencies. In choosing an agency, look to see if they are members of these professional organizations. Member agencies are listed on each organization's website.
Why doesn't findanannyshare.com offer a database for nannies? We have found that an anonymous internet search for such a very important employee is not the preferred way to hire a nanny.
Background Checks
When hiring a nanny it is important to do certain background screenings. The most common background checks include criminal record checks, drivers record reports, social security number traces and credit history reports. Various companies can help you do a background check including U.S. Information Search and Mind Your Business.
Follow-up Interviews
You may want to meet with a nanny more than once. If, after checking some references, you think she/he would be a good fit for your family, you should meet again to observe her interactions with your children in a more relaxed setting. Have the nanny spend some time with you and the children and/or have the nanny babysit for a little while so you can see how everyone gets along.
Compensation and Benefits
Why does a nanny want to work for two families? Often a nanny who works with multiple children will have a “more the merrier” attitude and enjoy the interaction with different children. A nanny who is working for two families also knows that she can earn more money than with a single employment situation.
Nanny’s wages are based on her experience and education and on the responsibilities of the job. Geographic location is also a factor. The International Nanny Association provides excellent guidelines on hiring a nanny in their publication A Nanny For Your Family. Local nanny placement agencies can also help you determine what you should pay a nanny.
Depending on the number of children involved in the Nanny Share, jobs will pay about 5% to 20% above what the nanny could earn working for just one family. Two weeks separate paid vacation is also typical.
Making the Job Offer
The scope of your job offer should include your nanny’s work schedule, compensation, benefits, job duties and developmental goals. It is best to put your job description and the job offer in writing. Expectations concerning the length of employment and amount of notice requested upon termination should also be included in your written agreement.
Sample Work Agreement (pdf)
Tax Information
When you hire a household employee it is important to understand your obligations as a household employer. You must file all applicable tax forms, Social Security, Medicare, federal and state unemployment insurance and income taxes. Two excellent nanny tax specialists are HomeWork Solutions and Breedlove & Associates.
9 Tips for Success
Good family/nanny matches aren’t accidental and succeed only when everyone works together. Here are some tips to make your employer/employee relationship last.
9 tips (pdf)