It is required by law that you pay Social Security, Medicare, and Federal
unemployment taxes on all household employees. You must also withhold federal
and state taxes. Depending on where you live, you may also be liable for state
unemployment and/or disability taxes. Call your local IRS and State Department
of Labor for more information. We require our Nannies to provide us with Social
Security numbers and also proof of employment eligibility for working in the
United States. This allows you to use the Nanny's salary towards the credit for
child and dependent care expense (Federal form 2441). Many companies also have
provisions for allowing you to take child care money in pretax dollars. Consult
your accountant for complete information and to see if you qualify.
Work Hours
A work schedule should be made and reviewed by the Nanny and family before
employment begins. It should be clear to the helper as to when you expect her to
be "on duty" and "off duty". Two days are given off each week (it is highly
recommended that one of these days be Sunday). Clarify with your helper when she
may have evenings off, curfews, and when she may be needed to baby sit. If you
have a highly variable schedule or one/both parents do extensive traveling, this
should also be discussed in advance. Paid vacation of two weeks, as well as 5
major holidays is also customary. We have a work agreement available to our
families, which serves as a contract between Nanny and family, that can be
downloaded here.
Health Insurance
Many Nannies desire health insurance. We can provide you with information on
group rates. This is a matter which can be negotiated between the Nanny and the
employer (family). Use of automobile, telephone, and television should be
discussed prior to beginning work. Visitor policy should also be discussed
before employment begins. Upon hiring a Nanny through our agency, a sample "work
agreement" will be made available for your use. You may modify this contract to
suit your particular needs. Please feel free to consult with us regarding any of
these issues. We have many years of experience and would be happy to assist you.
