New parents often envision that hiring a nanny will be the magic bullet that solves their childcare challenges. Hiring the nanny itself, however, is an activity fraught with worry, stress, and the fear of actually hiring the wrong nanny. Here we offer parents a short list of common mistakes families make when hiring a nanny, and tips to avoid them. Let HWS help you make your experience hiring a nanny simpler and worry free.

Topics: hiring a nanny, interview a nanny

The keys to a nanny's success in the workplace all revolve around attitude. The "secret sauce" all successful professional nannies bring to their workplace includes the following attitudes:

Topics: nanny job satisfaction, nanny

The growing national movement towards aging in place is challenging many families. As noted recently in the New York Times, "Aging in community is important for preserving the quality of life for older adults and providing stability to neighborhoods." 

Topics: elder care, senior home care

April 2015 Update

The survey referenced below is now closed and published. HWS encourages you to review the results.

The INA reports the following:

 

Key findings include:

 

• Average hourly rate USD$18.66, $1/hour increase from 2012
• 49% have had a salary increase in prior 12 months, up from 38% in 2012
• Education and experience correlate with higher hourly wage
• 60% received an annual bonus in 2013, up from 53% in 2011
• INA Credentialed nannies average $19.96 per hour
• 64% are paid legally

Topics: nanny salary, nanny benefits

I recently attended Nannypalooza in Philadelphia where I was asked by a nanny in attendance if I could coach her on how to speak to her employer about being paid on the books. Immediately several other nannies joined the conversation, sharing that this is one of the most difficult conversations to initiate with their employers.

Topics: nanny off the books, nanny job satisfaction, nanny taxes

(October 1, 2014)

Topics: new york household employment, New York household payroll

When families hire a nanny, they enter the relationship with the best of intentions to establish a mutually rewarding long term relationship between the nanny and the family. You have gone to a lot of effort to locate this nanny, what actions can you take as the nanny employer to insure your mutual satisfaction? What are the keys to nanny job satisfaction?

Topics: nanny job satisfaction, nanny retention

Nannies and senior caregivers who work in a private home, receive instructions and directions from the family employer and are paid by the family (either directly or via a household payroll company) are employees in the eyes of the IRS and US Department of Labor. As employees, many aspects of compensation and payroll are governed by payroll and labor law, no different than employees in a department store, factory or othr workplaces. Tax and labor law that covers household employees are often unique, and all too often neither the family nor the caregiver know the important details. Household payroll literacy on the part of a nanny or senior caregiver is important as they negotiate pay and benefits with their employers, many of whom don't understand these key points themselves.

Topics: household employee taxes, household payroll literacy, nanny employment practices, domestic employer legal responsibilities

Do you hire, manage and issue payroll to a beneficiary’s caregiver(s) in your capacity as a trustee? If so it is important to understand the legal and tax obligations this type of employment creates for both the trust and you personally.

Topics: Special Needs Trust, caregiver payroll, worker misclassification, household payroll, workers compensation household employees

Understanding the Household Employer's Role with Unemployment

Topics: senior caregiver unemployment insurance, nanny unemployment insurance