The Importance of Household Employer Workers Compensation Insurance

There’s no doubt about it: privately employing a senior caregiver comes with its own set of logistical challenges. In addition to payroll and taxes, the ins and outs of worker’s compensation and benefits can be overwhelming for seniors and the family members coordinating their care. If you don’t understand your legal obligations as a household employer, things can get messy. Consider this case study of a senior caregiver that was injured on the job.

Topics: nanny, workers compensation household employees, agency, senior, CPA

Topics: nanny, what to expect, child care

Fall is just around the corner and that means that millions of children will be getting ready to head to kindergarten for the first time. This is an exciting and sometimes nerve-wracking time for the children as well as the parents and their nannies! As a nanny, you have a special role in the child’s life in regards to preparing them for school. Here are some important tips and getting the kid(s) in your care prepared for their first adventure in school.

Topics: nanny, agency

Working as a nanny is not only job, but it’s an emotional investment. Nannies come to love the children they take care of and when the children start school, saying goodbye can be hard. Even though the child may not need all-day care as they once did, keeping a nanny on full time can still be very beneficial for families. If that is what happens, then the family and the nanny will need to sit down and discuss job duties and how the routine and job will need to change. Kindergarten is either full day or half day, depending on the school and school district and having the nanny available for the child before or after school, as well as sick days and school holidays, can be extremely beneficial.

Topics: nanny, agency

You’ve hired a nanny and you think she’s a perfect fit for your family. Great references and experience. You and your kids get along with her well and things are seemingly working out great. But then, she gives her notice. What went wrong? Maybe it’s not her, but it’s you. Here are some reasons why good nannies and caregivers often quit their jobs.

Topics: nanny, nanny separation, nanny management, caregiver management, agency, senior

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Are you thinking of hiring a new nanny? Here’s everything you need to know about training your nanny and bringing her up to speed in no-time.

Topics: nanny, nannies, nanny training

Child care can be extremely costly. One of the best ways to provide personalized small group care and save money on child care without cutting corners is start up a nanny-share with another family.

Topics: nanny share, nanny

There are a lot of questions that surround taxes that families are required to pay for their nanny or senior caregiver and for most people, the process can be confusing and at times, overwhelming. Here, we answer some of the most commonly asked questions.

Q: Is there a dollar threshold at which W-2 Forms are not required?

A: Household employers are required to issue a W-2 when cash wages in the year reach $1,900 (2015), or if the household employer has withheld income or payroll taxes. When wages do not meet the threshold and taxes were not deducted, a W-2 is not required.

Topics: W-2, 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

Are you a nanny caring for young children or a senior caregiver caring for a frail adult? Do you employ a nanny or senior caregiver? Does this caregiver know how to reach important parties in an emergency? Every caregiver should be provided with an Emergency Contacts list at the start of employment.

Topics: senior care, nanny, emergency plans, caregiver, nanny tax case study