Is a live-in Nanny the right thing for you?
A live-in nanny doesn’t need to commute, they may even be able to take an active role in your morning, especially if you need to get kids to school or deal with a baby who was up all night long.
They may even provide more flexibility for parents that work late, travel frequently, or have non-traditional work schedules (Doctor on call). Live-in nannies need to be paid for all hours they work but they may be better able to handle changes to your schedule.
A live-in nanny is not a decision to be taken lightly. Think about the benefits and drawbacks of someone outside of your family living with you. you’re giving up some privacy but receiving more flexibility.
If your child needs specialized care – even around-the-clock attention – you should not hire a live-in nanny as a solution. They may not be able to provide the proper supervision and protection your child requires.
Finding the right nanny
You need to find someone who has trustworthiness, responsibility, experience, and can connect with your kids among other things.
But there are things to watch out for.
Will they fit your lifestyle? Do you need to change routines or habits? What about them?
You need someone who will be a loving caregiver for your children but also be well-suited for your home.
You may want to talk to other families to understand their challenges and how arrangements work both for them and their employee.
You may want to perform a background check
Your live-in nanny candidates are also evaluating you during the hiring process. They’re looking for an employer who is fair, honest, and trustworthy.
Your live-in nanny will also be evaluating YOU during this process. They want someone who is honest, fair, and trustworthy.
Work agreement
responsibilities, work schedule, pay, benefits, expectations, house rules, and more should all be carefully written out in a work agreement. Some FAQ’s
- Expenses
- What expenses of theirs will you cover?
- Shared spaces
- What are you going to share with them in your home
- Transportation
- Will they need a car?
- Behaviors
- Is drinking alcohol or smoking allowed?
- Are visitors or overnight guests allowed to come?
- Are there curfew requirements?
- How loud can they be?
Ultimately, their responsibilities are the same as any other nanny. They’re going to care for your children. Prepare meals for them, clean up after them, and do your children’s laundry. Live-in nannies are not there to clean your house, or run personal errands for you. If these duties are needed then you may need to look for a nanny/housekeeper or an extra employee as your personal assistant.
Being on the same page as your employee will make your life a lot easier. That way there are no misunderstandings about what their responsibilities are. Alleviating miscommunication is one of the main ways to keep you and your employee happy and on the same page.
Non-disclosure agreement
An NDA is a very important part in the final steps of hiring a nanny. You may trust them, but every day theres a chance that they will come across very sensitive information that you would like to remain private like prescriptions, banking information, receipts, or even personal conversations that they might overhear. Make sure to discuss these concerns, both in person and on paper, with your nanny to avoid miscommunication.
Accommodations
If you are thinking about hiring a live-in nanny it is important to remember that at the very least they needed to be provided a separate furnished bedroom. When they’re off the clock, they need privacy too! If they don’t have their own kitchen it is likely that they will be sharing meals with you and your family. Make sure that your nanny is comfortable with the room and board arrangements you will be providing.
Schedule
A live-in nannies work schedule is very similar to that of a live-out nanny. It is usually 5 days a week, with 2 days off on the weekends! This is not including paid holidays, PTO, or vacation time.
If you want a nanny to be on call, then you have to be willing to pay them for those hours. If you are traveling for work and need overnight supervision, a live-in nanny can provide this!
It is easy.to mix work and non-work hours with a live-in nanny, so it is very important to respect the schedule you put forward and try your very best to follow it.
Pay rate
Live-in nannies should be compensated the same amount as a live-out nanny. Just because they have a room doesn’t mean they should be getting paid less.
A live-in nanny should receive the same rate of pay you would consider for a live-out caregiver. The fact that they receive room and board shouldn’t lessen their pay.
According to the International Nanny Association’s 2017 Salary and Benefits Survey, the national average hourly rate for a full-time nanny is $19.14/hour. There wasn’t much difference in pay rate for live-in and live-out employees.
As mentioned, they are paid for all hours they’re on duty and “on call.” If your nanny is not free to go home, then they need to be compensated for those hours as well!
If your live-in nanny needs to be at your home and isn’t free to leave, then they need to be paid for those hours as well.
Overtime pay
Most live-in nannies are exempt from overtime pay. All hours worked over 40 in a seven-day workweek are paid at a normal hourly rate. However live-in workers in several states – including California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon – are required to be paid overtime when they exceed a certain number of hours in a day or workweek.
