Should Parents Be Background Checked?

Hi everyone! It’s Laura from Nanny Parent Connection back with this week’s video.

Over the past year, our team has been approached by multiple nannies to discuss whether parents hiring a nanny or sitter should be background checked.

Several of these childcare providers shared some disturbing stories about sexual harassment, wage theft, and domestic violence that they had encountered.

While we have seen a few parents run background checks on themselves within our community, it is not common.

We reached out to several nanny agency partners from across the United States to get their take and heard a similar response: it is rare for parents to run background checks on themselves.

Should parents be background checked? Let’s explore the pros, cons and what our team recommends.

Watch the video to learn more! 

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A transcript of the video can be found below: 

Hi everyone, it’s Casey from Nanny Parent Connection, back with this week’s video.

Over the past year, our team has been approached by multiple nannies to discuss whether parents hiring a nanny or sitter should be background checked.

Several of these childcare providers shared some disturbing stories about sexual harassment, wage theft, and domestic violence that they had encountered.

While we have seen a few parents run background checks on themselves within our community, it is not common.

We reached out to several nanny agency partners from across the United States to get their take and heard a similar response: it is rare for parents to run background checks on themselves.

Should parents be background checked?

Let’s explore the pros, cons, and what our team recommends.

First and foremost, when hiring a nanny or sitter to care for their kids, families want to ensure their children are in safe and trustworthy hands, and rightly so.

But what about the flip side?

Nannies spend a significant amount of time in these families’ homes, and their safety and well-being are just as important.

In discussing this question with nannies in our community, the top reason given for wanting the parents to be background checked was personal safety.

Nannies enter an unfamiliar environment, often without any prior knowledge of the family’s history.

A background check could help identify any red flags, such as a history of violence or criminal activity, which could potentially put them at risk.

It’s also important to remember that background checks can foster a sense of mutual trust and transparency.

Just as parents want to feel secure about who is looking after their children, nannies also deserve to know they’re entering a safe and supportive environment.

It’s about creating a balanced relationship where both parties feel respected and protected.

Let’s explore the pros and cons of parents being background checked:

Pros:

1. Enhanced safety for nannies:

Ensuring a safe working environment is crucial. Background checks on parents can identify any potential risks, such as a history of violence or criminal activity, protecting nannies from potentially dangerous situations.

2. Mutual trust and transparency:

Background checks foster a sense of mutual respect and transparency. Just as parents want to ensure their children are in safe hands, nannies deserve to know they are working in a safe and supportive environment.

3. Professionalizing the industry:

Implementing background checks for parents sends a message that nannying is a respected and serious profession. It holds both parties to high standards, which can lead to better working conditions and greater respect for the profession.

Cons:

1. Privacy concerns:

Parents might feel that background checks are an invasion of their privacy. They may worry about the amount of personal information being accessed and how it will be used.

2. Potential distrust:

Suggesting that parents be background checked can create a sense of distrust. Families might feel that their integrity is being questioned, which could strain the relationship between the nanny and parents before it even begins.

3. Implementation challenges:

The logistics of conducting background checks on parents can be complicated. Who will conduct the checks? Will the nanny order the checks on the parents? Who bears the cost? Do the parents expect the nanny to pay for the background checks?

These practical considerations need to be addressed.

Should nannies and sitters request background check reports for parents they are considering working with?

We believe that personal safety should be of utmost importance for any childcare provider and encourage nannies and sitters to trust their gut when interviewing with a family.

Google all individuals in the home that are 18 years of age or older and see if you find any evidence of criminal history.

Ask the parents to provide references from other childcare providers they have worked with in the past.

Ensure the parents understand your concern about personal safety and ask if there is anything that you should know that might impact your decision to work with the family.

At the end of the day, trust your gut. If you would feel more comfortable reviewing a background check report on the parents, ask them if they would be willing to run a report on themselves.

If they decline to do so, that might be the sign you need to move on and look for other families to work with.

If the parents agree to have their background checked, keep in mind that Nanny Parent Connection offers one of the most popular childcare-focused background checks in the United States. Click here to check out our background check system.

Ensuring the safety and well-being of both children and caregivers is paramount in the childcare industry.

While the practice of parents running background checks on themselves is rare, it presents a compelling case for enhancing mutual trust, transparency, and professional standards.

Although there are valid concerns about privacy, potential distrust, and logistical challenges, prioritizing personal safety remains crucial.

It’s also important to acknowledge that suggesting background checks for parents might feel intrusive or uncomfortable.

It’s a delicate balance to strike, and it requires open and honest conversations. Families might worry about privacy, while nannies might fear seeming distrustful or overstepping boundaries.

We hope you found this information useful, and if you want to check out our amazing interview tips for nannies, check out this video: “Nannies, Interview Confidently with These Tips”.

Thanks for watching, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this video. Stay safe and talk with you next week!