Being a new parent is anything, but easy. From countless sleepless nights to struggling to even shower once a day, and putting your baby’s needs first, stepping into parenthood can be overwhelming. The challenges are even worse if you're balancing work with these new responsibilities. Having a nanny who could lend a helping hand with the baby's duties will only make your life easier.
Finding someone who matches your requirements and also takes utmost care of your newborn is crucial, and here is a checklist of some of the most important points to keep in mind before hiring a nanny.
Define the jobBefore hiring a nanny, prepare a detailed job description that clearly outlines the specific duties involved. This could include childcare responsibilities such as bathing, dressing, assisting with toilet routines, facilitating naps, supervising daily activities, or planning and preparing meals for the child. In case of specific requirements, such as a non-smoking nanny or one with a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record, ensure to mention these. One of the crucial points to be noted is the work hours and days- whether it’s for early mornings, evenings, overnights, weekends, or if you require a live-in arrangement.
Employment agreementAccording to the US Department of Labour, nannies come under the category of domestic workers. When you hire a nanny, it is important to understand your legal responsibilities the rights of the employee, and practices to maintain a healthy and safe work environment. Though a nanny contract is not legally required under federal law, it is best to have a written agreement that lays out the job responsibilities, pay and benefits, scheduled work hours, confidentially, holidays, and termination clause, to avoid conflict and have a safe environment. Also, be clear about the house rules and personal boundaries. Despite the nature of the job, it is best to maintain a professional relationship.
CPR and basic first aid certificationEnsure your ideal candidate for the nanny position should have certifications in CPR and First Aid. These certifications are crucial to ensure that they can be of help in case of any emergencies that may arise with the child. Other than emergency situations, with children, incidents such as a minor scrape, a choking hazard, or some other medical situations may arise, and in such cases having a trained nanny, who could act immediately, provide first aid, and seek professional help is need is important.
Be aware of wage laws
The nanny is a domestic worker protected by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The hours worked apply to Domestic Service Employment under the FLSA. The hours worked are when an employee is 'on duty'. For instance, if a live-in nanny, takes care of baby duties for three hours in the morning, and then goes to class at a university, returns home, and helps with the childcare for two hours in the evening, she has worked five hours. The minimum wage rate per hour differs from state to state. A nanny is also entitled to be paid for overtime hours. The overtime differential wages are often calculated at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate.
Run a thorough background checkA step that you mustn’t skip is conducting thorough background checks. Look at the criminal records and reference verification, to ensure the nanny has a clean and trustworthy history. Also, run a background check on whether they are legally staying in the state, and if they have relevant experience in child care. Look for candidates who are interested in a long-term position and willing to make a minimum one-year commitment to our family, because this will ensure stability in your lives.
Know about your tax responsibilitiesAs an employer, you pay a 6.2% Social Security tax on up to $168,600 (in 2024) of your employee’s earnings and a 1.45% Medicare tax on all earnings. Employees pay the same tax rates. They also pay 0.9% more in Medicare taxes on earnings higher than $200,000 ($125,000 if married, filing separately, or $250,000 if married, filing jointly). While paying your nanny legally, you may be eligible for certain tax benefits. It is crucial to learn about your tax responsibilities prior to hiring a nanny.
Installation of a nanny cameraIn this day and age of technology, it is often safe to install a nanny cam, to ensure the safety of your child. Before installing a nanny cam, learn about your state and local laws regarding surveillance. Also, it is important to discuss the camera with your nanny. Having cameras in common areas, and the nursery could be helpful.
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