| Hiring a nanny is a serious commitment, and as an employer you are expected to take responsibility laying out clearly the terms and conditions of employment. The most important policy here is being straightforward and direct, as you and your nanny will need to be frank with each other regarding the terms of your agreement. Your nanny and you can come to terms on what is and is not part of the job by agreeing on a mutual contract before the hiring process is complete.
One of the biggest causes of nanny turnover tends to be parents who make unexpected, and, for the nanny, unreasonable requests in the form of extra hours or chores. On the other hand, parents are often dissatisfied with nannies who ask to invite overnight guests, make long distance phone calls, and want to use the nanny car for personal errands. The problem here lies in the fact that parents tend to be quick to reprimand a nanny who is behaving unexpectedly, while nannies will want to avoid conflict-and avoid discussing the reasons for their distress and dissatisfaction with their jobs.
Good communication is the most important part of the parent-nanny relationship. Parents and nannies who communicate well provide a nurturing environment for the children together, which is, after all, the point of hiring a nanny to begin with. A detailed and mutually satisfying contract is the first step in making this relationship work.
Your nanny contract should be agreed upon and signed by you, your spouse, and your nanny. Your nanny and you both should have original copies on file, and you should not hesitate to refer to or even to amend the contract, with mutual consent, if you are dissatisfied with the original terms.
A functional nanny contract contains a detailed statement outlining your nanny's responsibilities and your goals for your children's growth and progress. It should state your nanny's salary and pay dates, along with any deductions for applicable taxes, social security, and health insurance. It's important to check into your state's requirements for disability, unemployment and worker's compensation insurance.
Furthermore, the contract should specify hours, and whether or not you expect some flexibility in terms of when you will return home each evening or when you need your nanny to be on-call. When you specify hours, you need to include how many hours per week qualify as overtime, and what additional pay your nanny will receive for additional work.
Some other issues that make sense to include in your nanny contract are:
- Overnight care-how often it is expected, and what additional pay will be provided per hour.
- A detailed travel schedule for the year that includes when you expect your nanny to leave town with the family, what provisions will be made for your nanny's comfort while traveling, how many hours of work will be necessary while out of town, and what additional pay will be provided.
- An agreement concerning the nanny's mealtimes, and what food items will be provided for the nanny in accordance with his or her dietary needs.
- An agreement concerning the children's dietary needs and what meals the nanny is expected to prepare.
- Rules for use of the nanny car, including provisions for automobile insurance.
- A schedule of regular meetings between the parents and the nanny to encourage ongoing communication.
- How sick days will be handled.
- How many vacation days she will get after an agreed on period of work.
A detailed, comprehensive nanny contract is especially important if you are hiring a live-in nanny, but should be just as much of a priority for any type of household employee you are considering hiring. Since your children's happiness is the most important thing, a fair contract will ensure that everyone concerned gets the most out of the loving care a nanny provides.
eNannySource.com provides a Family-Nanny work agreement with all Gold and Platinum level accounts in our Nanny Success Kit.
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