1 Copyright © 2017 by Kathleen M. Webb Cover Photograph © 2013 by Rebecca DuVal All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Document Design by Rebecca DuVal Printed in the United States of America First Printing, 2013 HomeWork Solutions Inc. 2 Pidgeon Hill Dr. Suite 550 Sterling, VA 20165 www.HomeWorkSolutions.com 2 ABOUT KATHY Kathy Webb is a co-founder of HomeWork Solutions. Since 1993, she and her staff have provided payroll and tax services to families employing household workers. Kathy’s extensive professional experience in the “nanny world” has earned her a position on the International Nanny Association (INA) Board of Directors, and memberships with the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies (APNA) and the Domestic Estate Managers Association. In the text to follow, Kathy combines her professional insights with her own personal experiences as a former household employer, to advise prospective (and existing) employers about the legal, financial, and personal aspects of the Nanny/Family relationship. Additionally, Kathy is the author of numerous related articles and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, and the Congressional Quarterly. She also consulted with Senate staffers in the drafting of the 1994 Nanny Tax Law. When she’s not hard at work or presenting at conferences all across the country, you can find Kathy in her kitchen preparing feasts from the fruits of her home garden, playing with her grandbabies, or sitting lake-side with her husband and a good book. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS About Kathy ................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 What is a Nanny? What does a Nanny do? ................................................................................................................... 6 Assess Your Needs ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Live-in or Live-out Nanny: Making the Decision ....................................................................................................... 8 Affording a Nanny: Planning Your Childcare Budget ............................................................................................... 10 Arranging a Nanny Share ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Finding a Nanny: Agency or DIY? ................................................................................................................................. 13 Hiring the Nanny .......................................................................................................................................................... 14 Pre-Screen the Candidate ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Interviewing the Candidate ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Nanny Interview Questions ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Common Interviewing Mistakes ............................................................................................................................. 20 Making a Nanny Employment Offer ............................................................................................................................ 21 General Considerations Regarding Nanny Wages and Benefits .............................................................................. 21 The Compensation Package .................................................................................................................................... 23 Vetting the Nanny ........................................................................................................................................................ 26 Background Checks ................................................................................................................................................. 26 Reference Checks .................................................................................................................................................... 27 The Working Interview ............................................................................................................................................ 27 Nanny Hired! Wrapping Up the Details ....................................................................................................................... 28 The Work Agreement .............................................................................................................................................. 28 Orienting the New Nanny........................................................................................................................................ 29 Learning Your New Role as an Employer ..................................................................................................................... 30 Monitoring Performance ......................................................................................................................................... 33 4 Encouraging Communication: ................................................................................................................................. 35 Parent Working from Home? Tips for Success ........................................................................................................ 37 Addressing Problems in the Employment Relationship .......................................................................................... 39 Understanding Why Nannies Quit........................................................................................................................... 40 Ending the Employment Relationship ......................................................................................................................... 41 Letting the Nanny Go .............................................................................................................................................. 41 Appendices .................................................................................................................................................................. 44 Domestic Employee Responsibilities: Job Titles & Definitions ................................................................................ 44 Quiz Answers: What Kind of Employer Are You? Best Answers.............................................................................. 49 Recommended Reading & Resources ..................................................................................................................... 50 5 WHAT IS A NANNY? WHAT DOES A NANNY DO? Nannies are childcare specialists who participate in the social, emotional, and intellectual development of their charges. They are often expected to work with children on such areas a language development, potty training, social manners, homework, and more. A Nanny’s primary concern is the welfare of your child or children. Routine tasks may include: • Prepare simple, nutritious meals for the children. • Clean up the kitchen after children's meals (including dishes, counters, and loading or unloading the dishwasher). • Perform basic tasks related to children’s hygiene: bathing, brushing teeth, hair grooming. • Wash, dry, fold, and put away children's laundry. • Straightening up children’s bedrooms and play areas. • Periodic toy sanitization • Periodic review of children’s clothing to remove outgrown and out of season items. Notice that tasks unrelated to your children and their care are not on this list. Asking your nanny to perform non- childcare related household tasks distracts them from their primary focus - the care and nurturing of your children. OTHER JOB TITLES FOR HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYEES INCLUDE: • Nanny • Nanny/Housekeeper • Nanny/Governess • Nanny/Household Manager • Mother's Helper • Newborn Care Specialist (FKA Baby Nurse) • Babysitter See These Positions Defined >> 6 ASSESS YOUR NEEDS So you need some help with childcare and perhaps even the running of your home. Is a nanny the right solution for you? Before you pursue the nanny recruitment process, you should first thoughtfully assess your family’s needs. Consider your nanny-related expectations: • What days and hours you will need care? This is a qualification all candidates must be able to meet. • What is your budget? How much can you afford to pay? Research to find out what nannies are paid in your area. Many families will start the nanny search process only to find out that they are unable or unwilling to offer competitive pay and to attract quality nanny candidates. • What other skills or experiences does your ideal nanny possess? Make a list of the functions she will have to perform and then assign a skill or requirement necessary. For example: o If you have an infant, your nanny