Hiring a nanny is an important decision that will impact your family’s daily life. While you want to find someone you can trust to care for your children, it’s also crucial to get on the same page about duties, compensation, hours, and more through a nanny work agreement. A nanny work agreement is essentially an employment contract that lays out the terms of the working relationship. Having this agreement in writing helps set clear expectations from the start and prevents misunderstandings down the road. Here’s what to include:
Job Responsibilities
Be specific about the nanny’s core duties such as childcare, light housekeeping related to the children, meal preparation for the kids, etc. Also note if you expect the nanny to handle any additional tasks like heavier cleaning, laundry, or pet care.
Work Schedule
Specify the days and hours the nanny is expected to work each week, including if you need them to work early mornings, evenings, or weekends. Detail procedures for Schedule changes, overtime, and guaranteed hours if applicable.
Compensation
State the agreed upon hourly rate or annual salary. Note if you will pay overtime, offer health benefits, or other perks like gas reimbursement. Decide if pay will occur weekly or bi-weekly.
Paid Time Off
Most employment agreements include details on guaranteed hours, paid holidays, vacation days, and sick days the nanny will receive.
Other Policies
Outline policies on things like use of household vehicles, personal phone calls, internet usage, having visitors, smoking, etc. Clarify procedures for tracking hours worked.
Trial Period
It’s common to have an initial 2-4 week paid trial period to ensure it’s a good fit before the agreement is finalized.
Review & Termination
State how frequently you will review performance and compensation. Explain termination procedures and amount of notice required by either party.
Once you’ve drafted the agreement, go over it with your nanny candidate to align on terms. Then you both sign and keep a copy for your records. A thoughtful work agreement builds trust and helps start your employee relationship on the right foot.
