Are you considering hiring a nanny? Maybe a senior caregiver for one of your aging parents? Finding and hiring an experienced household employee helps provide the extra hand you need. But don’t forget, you’ll need to factor in the cost of hiring someone to work in your home. Paying them ‘under the table’ is illegal. Here are some essential things to remember when paying your employee fair and legally.

Topics: nanny unemployment insurance, hiring a nanny, nanny overtime, nanny paid time off, nanny mileage reimbursement, nanny tax compliance, caregiver, nanny vacation, agency

Caring for others is a job requiring heart. Whether you are a senior caregiver, a nanny, or work in another type of caregiving role, you know how much you invest in your charges daily. Unfortunately, if you don't take care of your mental, physical, or emotional well-being, you may feel exhausted and drained. Here are some tips for self care while you care for others.

Topics: eldercare, nanny retention, home health workers, nanny paid time off, caregiver, nanny vacation, senior home care

Timeless holiday songs are once again playing on the radio, that festive spirit can be felt in the air and year end celebratory planning can be found everywhere … This is one of my favorite seasons of all.  It is that special time of year when we take the time to appreciate the wonderful people in our lives, and take a moment to show our appreciation to those special people that make our everyday lives better.  We all start to feel that holiday spirit this time of year!

Many families incorporate this spirit into their household employment relationships as well.  If you have a nanny, senior caregiver or other household employee, now is the time to consider how you might demonstrate your appreciation to your employee ...

Topics: nanny paid time off, nanny bonus

Summer is fast approaching, which means many of us are counting down the seconds till our much-needed holidays in the sun. For nannies, though, the summer can be the most stressful time of the year.  It’s simple, really: the benefits of your full-time job that allow you to take paid time off (whether sick leave, personal days, or paid vacation) cannot be taken for granted by a nanny.

As a full-time non-exempt employee of the family, a nanny should be paid for any regularly scheduled day that she is available to work and the family, for any reason, decides they don’t need her. For example, this would include the family’s beach week or Labor Day weekend trip to the in-laws. How does offering this benefit to the nanny help the employer? Paying nannies for any regularly scheduled day when their services are not needed provides a stable income stream for your nanny, and will allow you to employ the best nanny (the best nannies look for the best employers!).  In addition, it is reasonable for the family to ask the nanny to perform routine household tasks—such as pet sitting or organization of kid’s school supplies and clothes—while the family is away (so long as you provide your nanny reasonable notice, of course). Your family may even consider bringing the nanny along on vacation!

Topics: nanny paid time off, nanny vacation

Timeless holiday songs are once again playing on the radio, that festive spirit can be felt in the air and year end celebratory planning can be found everywhere … This is one of my favorite seasons of all.  It is that special time of year when we take the time to appreciate the wonderful people in our lives, and take a moment to show our appreciation to those special people that make our everyday lives better.  We all start to feel that holiday spirit this time of year!

Many families incorporate this spirit into their household employment relationships as well.  If you have a nanny, senior caregiver or other household employee, now is the time to consider how you might demonstrate your appreciation to your employee ...

Topics: nanny paid time off, nanny bonus

Did you know that household employers are not legally obligated to pay for ANY holidays or time off to their employees*?  It is entirely up to the employer to decide if such a benefit will be offered or not.  Clearly this is something that should be discussed when interviewing, and memorialized in a written work agreement. We know from experience this is a big concern for household employees. In some situations, applicants will even choose one job over another based on the holiday and paid time off in the job offer.

Topics: housekeeper, maid, nanny paid time off, nanny benefits, nanny work agreement

Household employers are not legally obligated to pay for ANY holidays or time off. It is true, however, that some baseline provision of paid holidays is a general expectation of household employees. Many nannies, especially those working without a written work agreement in place, worry about their income during the busy holiday season. Will they receive pay on holidays? Will they be paid for those regular days when they are not needed due to holiday travel or entertainment?

Topics: nanny paid time off, nanny benefits

We field increasing questions from families and their staff about holiday and vacation pay as families prepare for their summer vacations.

Topics: nanny paid time off, nanny benefits

Summer is coming. I count the days until I can wear flip flops, have some daylight at the end of my work day, and am already day dreaming about a summer vacation. Most of us anticipate summer.  Many nannies, however, dread the coming summer months. Why?

Topics: nanny summer schedule, nanny paid time off, nanny work agreement, nanny vacation