Tag: working with a nanny

Nannies! Advocate For Yourself

Posted on by Admin Team

 

Our team receives dozens of calls and emails each week from nannies. Many of these are requests for advice on how to discuss compensation related issues with their nanny family. Some of the most popular questions we receive are:

– How do I ask for a raise or an annual review?

– How do I talk to the parents about putting a nanny contract into effect?

– Should I be reimbursed for mileage when using my own car to transport my nanny kids?

– What is the best way to discuss job duty creep?

If you have ever found yourself asking these same questions, you are not alone. Below, we walk through the eight most common advice requests we hear from nannies, along with our thoughts on how to advocate for yourself with confidence.

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Don’t Forget These Nanny Year End Tasks!

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We all know how busy the holiday season can get. Travel, kids home from school, countless get-togethers, and this year, a triple whammy of COVID, influenza, and RSV running rampant throughout our communities!

To help, we’ve put together a checklist of nanny year end tasks that you should handle in the next couple of days if you are currently working with a nanny.

In this article, we’ll cover: 

– Holiday schedule planning

– Gift exchange with your nanny

– How to stay healthy if traveling

– Reviewing your Inclement weather policy

– Organizing year end payroll documents

Let’s dive in, and happy holidays!

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Do I REALLY Have To Pay My Nanny For That?

Posted on by Admin Team

 

“Do I REALLY have to pay my nanny for that?”

It’s a question we hear dozens of times, especially during the holidays. The nanny market continues to be super competitive across the United States, and inflation is pinching everyone in the wallet.

This has pushed parents to increase the pay rates and compensation packages they offer their nanny in order to stay competitive.

For first-time parents, or families who haven’t employed a nanny recently, these increases in nanny compensation can come as a HUGE shock.

Below are the top four nanny pay questions we hear from parents:

  • Do I really have to pay my nanny overtime pay, that gets really expensive?
  • Can I offer only half the guaranteed hours to my nanny while we are away on vacation for the holidays?
  • I don’t need my nanny for all of their guaranteed hours this week, can I pay them the same amount this week and next week, but just have them make up those hours that next week?
  • Do I have to reimburse for mileage when my nanny is using their car for driving on the job? She’s only taking our kids a few miles away to the park.

Below, we break down several common but incorrect assumptions about nanny pay. We hope you find it useful!

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Top 10 Tips For How To Keep Your Nanny!

Posted on by Admin Team

 

The cost of living has drastically increased over the past year. These rising costs are impacting the nanny world, and many nannies are leaving long-term positions for other opportunities offering a higher wage or additional benefits.

Have you found a great nanny? Make sure you are doing everything you can to keep them happy, cared for, and valued as they work with your family! Below are our top ten tips for how to keep your nanny in the long term.

We can’t stress how important communication boundaries are for many nannies. Don’t text or call your nanny late at night! And be sure to read all the way through for a bonus tip at the end.

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5 Tips For When The Parents Are WFH

Posted on by Admin Team

 

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents went to the office or their workplace. But now, many parents are working from home full-time or several days per week. This dynamic can be tricky to navigate if nanny care is happening in the home. But it doesn’t have to be!

Below, we cover our top five tips for parents and nannies to make working from home and nanny care work together seamlessly.

Pro Tip: If you need to sneak into the kitchen for a quick snack or beverage, make sure your nanny has the kids engaged in an activity. Kids have amazing hearing!

In this article, we’ll discuss: 

– Establish Expectations

– Set Clear Boundaries and Have A Conversation About Who Is In Charge

– Proper Home Office Setup

– Planning the Week

– Plan to Minimize Distractions

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Are You A Nanny or Household Manager + Job Duty Creep

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Are you a nanny, family assistant, or household manager? Not sure? Maybe you are a combination of all three!

Often, these titles are used interchangeably but there are some MAJOR differences in daily tasks, responsibilities, and compensation.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the differences between a nanny, family assistant, and household manager, how the compensation (pay) is different for each, and a discussion about the dreaded “job duty creep”.

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

– Nanny Job Duties

– Family Assistant Duties

– Household Manager Job Duties

–  How to Handle Job Duty Creep

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How To Handle Awkward Nanny Scenarios | Nanny Parent Connection

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Every nanny-family relationship runs into the occasional awkward moment, and how you handle those moments often matters more than the situation itself.

For this article, we partnered with Michelle Kelsey, founder of The Nanny Solution, an established nanny agency based in Canada, to talk through an unusual but important topic.

Below, we walk through real awkward nanny scenarios our team has run into over the years and get Michelle’s reactions and advice on how to handle each one. With 20 years of experience in the industry, she offers a practical, grounded perspective you can use the next time something unexpected comes up.

Sit back, relax, and we hope you take away something useful (and maybe have a laugh along the way too).

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Should I Give My Nanny Cash For Outings? 💰

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Does your nanny take your kids out for activities? Outings like a special ice cream treat or a visit to the Children’s Museum often come with small expenses, and it helps to have a clear plan for how those costs get covered. Should your nanny pay out of pocket and then get reimbursed, or is there a better approach?

Below, we walk through how your nanny should pay for those activities (hint: not in cash) so the system is simple, safe, and stress-free for everyone.

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Guide to Background Checks!! (Part 2) | Nanny Parent Connection

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Most parents have never run a background check before, so understanding the results can feel overwhelming. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of how to read a background check report and make sense of what you’re seeing.

Once you’ve ordered your background check and received the final report, the next step is understanding the results. Some of the questions we hear on a regular basis from background check customers are:

How should I interpret that hit on the County Criminal Record Search? What does the flag mean on the Social Security Trace? Should I be concerned about that accident listed on the Motor Vehicle Report?

Below, we walk through how to read and interpret each section of the report, including the red flags you should be on the lookout for when reviewing it.

background check guide

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Guide to Background Checks (Part 1) | Nanny Parent Connection

Posted on by Admin Team

 

Most parents across the United States have never ran a background check on a nanny or sitter before. It’s hard to blame them! The process can feel daunting as there are so many different companies out there offering a variety of background check resources.

But when it comes to the safety of your children and family, confirming that your child care provider has a clear background is so critical.

In this two part series, “Guide to Background Checks”, we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of how to run a background check and understand the results. We’ll cover everything you need to know to make the process of choosing and ordering a background check as stress-free as possible.

In Part 1, we’ll cover: 

– What Is a Background Check?

– Different Types of Background Checks

– Why Is It Important to Run a Background Check?

Continue reading “Guide to Background Checks (Part 1) | Nanny Parent Connection” →