California is striving to shine a light on its underground economy.  At the end of 2011, the LA Times reported that employers who pay their workers under the table - to avoid payroll taxes, workers’ compensation insurance and other government mandates - cost the state about $7 billion annually in lost tax revenues.  Last week, California’s Labor Enforcement Task Force set up a public hotline for workers and employers to call in complaints and provide enforcement tips.  Employers who are playing by the rules want to create a level playing field by "ratting out" their competitors who cheat.  One state official notes, “The hotline will be a valuable tool to gather information and bring into compliance those employers who treat workplace safety and wage and hour laws as a nuisance”. 

Topics: nanny tax audit, domestic employer legal responsibilities, payroll tax enforcement, california household employment

Most nannies and their employers work and are paid on a set weekly schedule; however, from time to time the family will require additional hours from their nanny. Legally, nannies are entitled to additional compensation for additional hours worked, and live out nannies, at a minimum, are entitled to the overtime differential (1.5 times the hourly rate) for hours worked over 40 in a work week. *

Topics: nanny employment practices, domestic employer legal responsibilities, nanny overtime

Topics: nanny employment practices, domestic employer legal responsibilities

Topics: worker misclassification independent contractor, domestic employer legal responsibilities, payroll tax enforcement

Topics: worker misclassification independent contractor, domestic employer legal responsibilities, new york household employment, california household employment

While most media attention in 2011 was focused on AB889 the California Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights, which did not pass in the 2011 legislative session, two other pieces of legislation that household employers must be aware of passed with little notice.

Topics: domestic employer legal responsibilities, nanny independent contractor, nanny work agreement, california household employment

Monday December 19, 2011 Update: What appeared a certainty two days ago is suddenly in jeopardy today. The House of Representatives is poised to reject the Senate's 2 month extension of the payroll tax holiday - insisting on a bill that funds the extension for a full year. We are watching this...

Topics: nanny payroll, nanny payroll tax, domestic employer legal responsibilities, household payroll tax, household paycheck calculator

Update: In 2014, the Household Employee Wage threshold increased to $1900. This means that any household employee- such as a nanny, housekeeper or elder care worker- earning $1900 or more per year requires their employer to pay what is commonly referred to as the "nanny tax."

Topics: nanny payroll tax, nanny tax, worker misclassification independent contractor, nanny employee, domestic employer legal responsibilities

The NYS Wage Theft Prevention Act was signed into law in April 2011. This act amends Section 195 of the NYS Labor Law to require all private employers to provide notice to employees of their rate(s) of pay and designated pay day.

Topics: nanny hourly wage, domestic workers bill of rights, domestic employer legal responsibilities, new york household employment

When hiring their nanny, most employers believe that they have recruited the perfect caregiver for their child. Most often, they want be fair in their dealing with their nanny, including in the arena of compensation. However, year after year a small suite of common nanny payroll and legal mistakes become very expensive lessons for these nanny employers.

Topics: nanny workers compensation insurance, nanny employment practices, calculate nanny payroll tax, domestic employer legal responsibilities, nanny work agreement