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
Families know that a comprehensive, legitimate pre-employment background check, thorough reference checking and organized behavioral interviewing questions are the gold standard in nanny recruiting. The careful background screening is a must, but you should not be lulled into thinking that just because a nanny that passed these 3 steps with flying colors you don't need to pay attention and observe the nanny on the job.
Topics: nanny, nannies, nanny tax, nanny tax compliance, nanny background screening
A client calls and say "I want to pay my nanny $16.00 an hour take home, can you help me?" When I hear this question it is like nails on a chalk board; however it’s also a great opportunity for me to explain the nanny taxes, how payroll works and why paying a net per hour is the worst idea. This is often referred to as 'Grossing Up' a paycheck and it can lead to major headaches.
Topics: nanny, nanny payroll, nanny payroll tax, nanny hourly wage, nannies
Topics: household employee, nanny severance, nanny, nanny employee, nanny separation
The Internal Revenue Service issued new 2014 income tax withholding schedules and they are fully integrated with our online tax calculator now. We are fielding a lot of inquiries about new paycheck amounts and will try to address the common questions here:
Topics: nanny, nanny tax, nanny taxes, household payroll tax
Inclement weather, train derailments, flight delays- these are all potential situations that could keep a person from their child or elderly relative. But other emergency situations exist- your charge could develop a high fever, knock a pot of boiling water from the stove, develop an allergic reaction that prevents them from breathing - that requires a nanny or senior caregiver to react quickly and make the right choice in getting medical attention.
Topics: senior caregivers, eldercare, nanny, nannies, emergency plans
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well”- Voltaire
We all have our own unique ways of showing appreciation for the people around us that make our lives easier or brighten our day in some other way ... Whether it is your employee, nanny, spouse, boss or even a kind stranger, make sure you show how valuable their positive impact in your life is for you. If someone challenged you to get out of your comfort zone and meet a goal, especially during the holiday season, remember to appreciate what they have done for you. Get creative with the ways you say “Thank you!”
Topics: nanny, nanny bonus, holiday
HomeWork Solutions is proud to announce the publication of the ABC Nanny Guide. Our own Kathleen Webb shares tips, tricks and lessons learned from 25 years of working in the nanny industry, both personally and professionally.
Topics: nanny
A food allergy is an adverse immune response to a food protein. They are distinct from other adverse responses to food, such as food intolerance, pharmacological reactions, and toxin-mediated reactions. [Wikipedia]
Worrying statistics reflect that the percent of children in the US suffering from allergic reactions is increasing each year. Approximately 1 in 20 children in the US has a food allergy. [Centers for Disease Control] The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports an alarming 1 in 50 Americans will experience an anaphylaxis attack.
Allergic reactions vary depending on the type and severity of the allergy and can affect each person differently. Mild allergies can cause slight discomfort while life threatening reactions like "anaphylaxis" can occur in individuals with severe allergies.
Families who have children with allergies know the importance of prevention and most of them have an emergency plan in place. When hiring a nanny, parents need to explain all emergency procedures and ALL details provided in writing and placed in a visible place (preferably in more than one place). Together review your Food Allergy Action Plan.
Most countries, including the US, require manufacturers to list the 8 most common allergy causing ingredients on food labels, in language even kids can understand. Food manufacturers must also disclose if the factory produces these elements, even though they are not included in the specific product.
The most common foods that cause allergies are:
A wonderful resource for caregivers working with a child with food allergies is the Kids with Food Allergies Foundation, a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Vanessa Vidal, FPC
HomeWork Solutions, Inc.
Topics: nanny
Halloween is one of the best memory-making holidays for every child. Those costumes that took hours to put together turn into timeless photos, and the generosity of neighbors can leave your children with a sugar rush that lasts for days ...
This fun tradition can also have some hidden hazards. As parents, guardians and/or child care providers, it is our responsibility to ensure the safety and well being of our children. Please find below a list of safety tips and tricks to keep your child happy and safe this Halloween:
Topics: nanny
