Employing a live-in Nanny is a significant decision for a family to make. A live-in Nanny is not only an employee but also an integral part of your family. The decision to hire a live-in Nanny contains many aspects that a parent should consider before deciding to hire one.
We’ve put together a list of 10 things you need to know before employing a live-in Nanny.
Be clear about your requirements regarding the skills and the characteristics you want a live-in Nanny to have. If your children have specific needs, you may require a live-in Nanny to have additional training or experience with something in particular. Also, specify the working days and hours you will need on the job. This will help you find the most suitable Nanny for your family's needs.
Write down your expectations, the traits you are looking for, and the skills you want from a live-in Nanny. Make sure to list down what your family needs, especially, what’s needed by your children.
Make sure to outline the responsibilities and duties of the live-in Nanny. These responsibilities vary from family to family, so ensure they are the most important ones. For example, if you need your live-in Nanny to do housework, ensure it is light, related to childcare, and specific.
Hiring a live-in Nanny makes you an employer, and it has responsibilities attached to it. If you are not careful, this may result in some penalties and sanctions.
As an employer, you need to familiarise yourself with the local employment laws related to live-in Nannies, including the minimum wage, overtime pay and other benefits. Make sure you also understand your tax obligations, including withholding taxes and paying employer contributions. A Nanny agency such as Little Ones will take care of all of this for you.
Always make sure to put everything in writing. The contract will not only protect you from any legal consequences but also help you build a trusting relationship with your live-in Nanny.
It should outline all the terms and conditions of the Nanny’s employment. It should also outline compensation, time off, and other important legal details like unemployment, insurance and tax withholding. Also, include the terms for termination of the agreement.
As you are inviting a domestic helper to your home, you need to make sure that it is safe from any hazard that may harm your employee. Before hiring a live-in Nanny, you should decide as a family about the living conditions you will provide. Will you be providing a separate bedroom, studio or shed? Will they have an en-suite or shared bathroom?
Make sure to go over the house rules from day one. By setting proper expectations and boundaries on their first day, you can avoid any tension between your family and the live-in Nanny.
In return, you are also expected to respect the privacy of your live-in Nanny and their time off. It is important to treat them with dignity and respect their privacy and boundaries.
Some families include their live-in Nanny in their budget for meals. However, they might also consider giving the live-in Nanny a meal allowance budget. If the Nanny's circumstances change, be willing to adjust your meal allowance or reimbursement policies accordingly.
Make sure to establish guidelines for reimbursing your Nanny for any work-related expenses, especially for the transportation for your children.
Consider emergencies in advance. Have a plan in place about who to contact in case of emergency and what procedures to follow. While most Nannies will have First Aid qualifications, it is still best to consider having these emergency plans available all the time.
You must specify the live-in Nanny’s working hours and the days off. Although they will be staying with you almost 24/7 as a live-in employee, this doesn’t mean that they will work 24/7 or that they don’t have the right to have time off.
Make sure to define these details in the contract to avoid any disputes. Also, by doing so, you can help take care of the welfare of your live-in Nanny by giving them time to take care of themselves and run their errands.
Building trust and respect is a very crucial aspect when you hire a live-in Nanny. By developing open communication with your live-in Nanny, you can better understand each other and have synergy that can help in creating a good environment for your children.
Always show appreciation for your live-in Nanny’s work and efforts in taking care of your children while you are away. If they have suggestions, make sure to take them on board and collaborate together.
By knowing these 10 factors, you can successfully find a great asset to your family, a trustworthy live-in Nanny, who can help you care for your children and become a confidant of a lifetime if treated correctly.
Little Ones has been helping families for almost 20 years to find reliable and qualified live-in Nannies. Should you need help, feel free to reach out.
