10 things Live-In Nannies Should Request
A nanny is a child-care professional, and deserves to be treated with proper respect and professional courtesy. Many families have never hired a nanny before, and may not be sure how to handle the new situation. Every family is different, and every nanny is different, but there are certain areas that pertain to all, and here you will find a sampling of what a nanny should be able to expect from an employer. Some of these are flat out obvious but this is just meant to be a quick checklist that you should have handy when looking for your next job as a nanny.
- Fair Wage – Wage scales vary from area to area, with highest wages in metropolitan areas. Nannies should receive appropriate pay for their location.
- Room & Board – These should be considered as inclusions for live-in caregivers. Nannies are often considered “part of the family”, but should be provided with a measure of privacy in their living accommodations.
- Vehicle – Nannies should not have to use their own vehicles for work-related driving, and are often given the use of a vehicle for personal reasons as well as for work.
- Duties List – Responsibilities should be clearly delineated, with a nanny’s primary sphere revolving around child-care, not house cleaning or errands. If extensive household work is required, compensation should reflect the additional work. Hours and days of employment should also be clear to all parties.
- Safe Home – A nanny has every right to expect a safe and healthy work environment, and shouldn’t have to work in a house full of smokers unless he/she agrees to do so beforehand.
- Harassment – The nanny shouldn’t have to worry about being chased around the dining room table by a lecherous parent or relative; there is no place for any such behavior in a reputable household. No live-in employee should ever feel physically or emotionally threatened in his-or-her own residence.
- Health Insurance – Health insurance and medical benefits, if any, should be clearly laid out in any contract, and these are negotiable items in the employment agreement.
- Paid Vacation – Two weeks of paid vacation per year is a rule-of-thumb standard, but this is something decided between employer and employee, and also applies to paid holidays and scheduled time-off.
- Payroll Service – Any household employee should be free from worry about proper withholding, and whether-or-not an employer is paying the right amounts of Social Security and Medicare.
- Out-of-Pocket – It is fair to expect compensation for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the course of childcare duties. Snacks and parking fees are two common examples, and a nanny should have a way to report these expenses so that an employer can make the necessary adjustments.
The time to deal with these points is before entering into an employment agreement, and this will protect everyone, as well as allow for the best relationship possible.
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Every year the International Nanny Association holds a three day conference for professional nannies and nanny agencies. In addition to all of the great learning that goes on at this conference, the re-fueling that goes on is equally as important. Being a nanny is a tough and often thankless job. INA’s annual conference gives nannies a break from the every day routine and provides a chance for nannies to feel like professionals and respected in their career choice. 
