Posts Tagged ‘Nanny Background check’

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How to Use an Online Nanny Referral Service

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

by, Steve Lampert

Back in 2001 when we started eNannySource.com it was unusual to use an online nanny referral service, now the internet is used for almost everything, but there is still apprehension about hiring a nanny online.

A Brick and mortar nanny agency vets nannies thoroughly before referring a nanny candidate to your family, but what about an online nanny referral service? Safety is first in mind amongst families hiring a nanny, especially when a newborn or preschool age child is involved.

eNannySource.com provides the tools of a nanny agency in an online nanny referral service. Our Hiring Pro Toolkit contains everything necessary to pre-screen a nanny. Nanny interview questions, nanny salary guidelines, a complete nanny agency nanny application and the INA Family & Nanny employment agreement. All of these tools are provided free of charge to paid members. All that remains to be done is a nanny background check and this is included at no charge in our Platinum membership.

It’s safe and economical to hire a nanny online so long as you follow all the steps for safe nanny hiring.

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Nanny Taxes? What’s that about?

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Dr. Lindsay Heller, The Nanny Doctor

A household employer is defined as anyone who pays an individual to perform duties in or around their home. Once you have hired a nanny and agreed on a nanny salary it is important to realize that you are now an employer and, as a result, have duties and responsibilities to your employee. A household employer should expect to pay approximately 9-11% of their employee’s gross wages in payroll tax. These taxes include State Unemployment Insurance, Federal Unemployment Insurance; the employer’s half of Social Security and Medicare, and other taxes that vary by state. Additionally, employers are required to withhold taxes from their employee’s paycheck including State and Federal Income Tax, the employee’s half of Social Security & Medicare and other taxes that vary by state.

Because the logistics of employee payroll can be complicated, I recommend using a household payroll service. Breedlove and Associates, www.breedlove-online.com and GTM Payroll Services, www.gtm.com  both offer an easy-to-use service for nanny employers and are well regarded in the industry. Each service  can educate you on your employer responsibilities and handle your nanny payroll for a small monthly fee. These services are also knowledgeable about tax breaks available to employers and will assist you in finding the most affordable solution for your family!

We also highly recommend a nanny background check at the time of nanny hiring.

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To use a nanny cam or not to use a nanny cam…that is the question!

Monday, August 9th, 2010

By, Dr. Lindsay Heller  The Nanny Doctor

So, you are thinking about using a nanny cam…you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. Let’s talk about how to handle and manage these fears. This is a delicate and sensitive issue. There are not only legal issues to consider but also how it may impact the relationship you have with your nanny.

If you are thinking about using a nanny cam, you probably have a lot of fears related to leaving your child with a nanny. Some of these fears are natural, while others may be common but irrational. You may have heard about nannies abusing children in the news and now that you have your own little one, you are deathly afraid. First of all, you need to know that nannies rarely abuse children. Secondly, you need to know that it is natural to be a little afraid and cautious, however, your fear shouldn’t paralyze you, it should lead you to make good choices about who cares for your child and listening to your gut. Knowledge builds confidence, so please vet your nanny carefully using the eNannySource Nanny Success Kit and Nanny Background Check before hiring a nanny and using a nanny cam.

First Things First
When it comes to using a nanny cam, I recommend that you let the nanny know in the interview that you are planning to use one. Now, for some this may seem contradictory, however, it is not! I’d rather that an incident is completely prevented rather than “caught” and being up front about your use of a nanny cam can raise awareness for the nanny and help to prevent any issues.

Trust
In addition to the laws, you may want to think about how this may affect your relationship with your nanny. Trust is very important in this unique relationship and needs to be nurtured. If you are to go with a nanny cam, you should discuss this with your interview candidates prior to hiring (in the interview) and once hired, have the nanny sign a document stating that they are aware of the “hidden camera.” This way you are hiring someone who you know is comfortable with this practice.  A nanny who finds out after some time working for your family that there is a nanny cam may feel insulted and any trust you may have built will be ruined. 

Is it legal?
The short answer is it is legal to use a hidden camera in all 50 states, however it is illegal to record someone’s speech in 15 states without their consent. California Video recording of “confidential communications” is prohibited without consent.

The laws of 13 states expressly prohibit the unauthorized installation or use of cameras in private places. In some states, installation or use of any device for photographing, observing or overhearing events or sounds in a private place without the permission of the people photographed or observed is against the law. A private place is one where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from unauthorized surveillance.

Consider that studies and polls show that many care providers are not necessarily against video taping of child-provider interaction, it’s just that they want to know about it. It seems to be a matter of trust and feeling of deception. Some parents handle the situation by telling a potential care provider upfront that a nanny cam will be used so that they can feel comfortable and confident about their child’s care. It’s then up to the nanny to accept or decline the position with a family who uses a nanny cam. 

A final note
If you feel so concerned about someone caring for your children, you shuld listen to that gut instinct and not hire them to care for your children. If you think you are feeling a little anxious as a new parent and need the nanny cam toget through 

By, Dr. Lindsay Heller  The Nanny Doctor

So, you are thinking about using a nanny cam…you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. Let’s talk about how to handle and manage these fears. This is a delicate and sensitive issue. There are not only legal issues to consider but also how it may impact the relationship you have with your nanny.

If you are thinking about using a nanny cam, you probably have a lot of fears related to leaving your child with a nanny. Some of these fears are natural, while others may be common but irrational. You may have heard about nannies abusing children in the news and now that you have your own little one, you are deathly afraid. First of all, you need to know that nannies rarely abuse children. Secondly, you need to know that it is natural to be a little afraid and cautious, however, your fear shouldn’t paralyze you, it should lead you to make good choices about who cares for your child and listening to your gut. Knowledge builds confidence, so please vet your nanny carefully using the eNannySource Nanny Success Kit and Nanny Background Check before hiring a nanny and using a nanny cam.

First Things First
When it comes to using a nanny cam, I recommend that you let the nanny know in the interview that you are planning to use one. Now, for some this may seem contradictory, however, it is not! I’d rather that an incident is completely prevented rather than “caught” and being up front about your use of a nanny cam can raise awareness for the nanny and help to prevent any issues.

Trust
In addition to the laws, you may want to think about how this may affect your relationship with your nanny. Trust is very important in this unique relationship and needs to be nurtured. If you are to go with a nanny cam, you should discuss this with your interview candidates prior to hiring (in the interview) and once hired, have the nanny sign a document stating that they are aware of the “hidden camera.” This way you are hiring someone who you know is comfortable with this practice.  A nanny who finds out after some time working for your family that there is a nanny cam may feel insulted and any trust you may have built will be ruined. 

Is it legal?
The short answer is it is legal to use a hidden camera in all 50 states, however it is illegal to record someone’s speech in 15 states without their consent. California Video recording of “confidential communications” is prohibited without consent.

The laws of 13 states expressly prohibit the unauthorized installation or use of cameras in private places. In some states, installation or use of any device for photographing, observing or overhearing events or sounds in a private place without the permission of the people photographed or observed is against the law. A private place is one where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from unauthorized surveillance.

Consider that studies and polls show that many care providers are not necessarily against video taping of child-provider interaction, it’s just that they want to know about it. It seems to be a matter of trust and feeling of deception. Some parents handle the situation by telling a potential care provider upfront that a nanny cam will be used so that they can feel comfortable and confident about their child’s care. It’s then up to the nanny to accept or decline the position with a family who uses a nanny cam. 

A final note
If you feel so concerned about someone caring for your children, you shuld listen to that gut instinct and not hire them to care for your children. If you think you are feeling a little anxious as a new parent and need the nanny cam toget through

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Posted in hiring a nanny, Nanny Background Check, Newborn Nanny Care | 2 Comments »

Should I use a brick and mortar nanny agency?

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

By, Dr. Lindsay Heller, The Nanny Doctor

Nanny agencies are professionals in their field. They have years of experience in seeking out nanny candidates. Many families benefit from the help of nanny agencies. Their wealth of wisdom and experience can save you a lot of time. Here are some things you should know about nanny agencies:

1)    Not every nanny agency is the same. There aren’t any governing bodies of agencies so that means that anyone can set up shop as an agency. You need to be smart and ask other parents about their experiences with an agency. Make sure the agency has been around for a reasonable amount of time and is well established in the community.

2)    Some agencies have a fee you must pay before starting a search, while others do not. Ask about this on your first phone call.

3)    Ask what the agency’s fee is. These range from anywhere from 5-18% of the annual nanny salary.

4)    Ask about their “replacement policy.” If you hire your nanny and it turns out it wasn’t the right fit, most nanny agencies will help you find a new nanny for no additional fee as long as it is within their designated window of time.

5)    A good nanny agency will save you hours and hours of time! They will have already interviewed nanny candidates and will only present you with candidates that match your family’s unique needs.

6)    A nanny agency will conduct a nanny background check and check references as part of their overall fee.

7)    Many families attempt to go about conducting a search on their own, only to struggle and spend so much time looking for a nanny, feel fed up and then end up coming to an agency in the end.

8)    A good agency “knows the nanny market” – they know what candidates have been out there looking for a job for years as well as what candidates have the greatest references.

9)    An agency will provide you with support during the process of finding a nanny and help with issues that arise after placement. They can answer any questions you may have and guide you through the process.

10)    A good agency prides themselves on finding the right nanny for families and will do whatever it takes to match you up! 

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We have found the right nanny for our family, what information should I keep on file about her?

Monday, June 14th, 2010

By, Dr. Lindsay Heller, The Nanny Doctor

Congratulations on finding the right nanny for your family! Now what? 

Once you have been through the interview process and the vetting and nanny background check and have decided on the right nanny for your family, it’s important to collect important information to have on file about your new household employee. You are now an employer and your household is now a workplace. This may be the first time you have ever managed or employed someone. Here is a list of things that you should have on file:

1)   a copy of your nanny’s driver’s license.

2)   A second form of identification

3)   A copy of her resume

4)   A copy of her references

5)   A copy of the nanny backgound check you conducted

6)   A copy of her cpr/first aid certification

7)   A copy of the signed work agreement

8)   A copy of her job description

9)   A copy of a confidentiality agreement if you have one

10)A copy of her driving record from the DMV

11)A signed I-9 form

Once you start a personnel file on your new employee, make sure you keep it in a place where you can find it! This file is a great place to keep notes about your nanny doing something exceptional and discussing it at the review date! It is also a good reference for knowing when you will need her to get recertified for infant cpr/first aid.

Unfortunately, sometimes things happen such as theft or fraud and you need to protect you and your family. One way of doing this is collecting important information about your nanny upfront so that if something goes wrong, you know in fact who she is and have verified it prior to employ.

By creating a personnel file, it forces you to formalize the relationship which can also be important in establishing employee/employer boundaries. This may seem “impersonal” but it is absolutely essential should you wish for this relationship to last!

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How do I conduct a nanny background check?

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

By, Dr. Lindsay Heller, The Nanny Doctor

Congratulations! If you are ready to conduct a nanny background check, you are probably very close to finding the right nanny for your family! There are several layers to the background check that you need to be aware of before you hire your nanny. Check out these tips for conducting a nanny background check:

  • Ask the potential candidate to provide you with at least three references from former employers. Don’t just rely on letters of reference, take the time to call the nanny references. Ask them about the details such as how long they employed the potential candidate, how they managed their children, what was it like to manage them? Did they have any issues with communication? Why did the employment end? Would they hire that nanny again? What are the ages of their children? Use the eNannySource Nanny Success Kit’s nanny reference check form.
  • If you find that you are unable to reach the references provided, ask that they provide you with alternative references or ask that they track down their former employers and get back to you. It’s very important that you hear from former employers.
  • Go to enannysource.com and click on “Order a Nanny Background Check”. Online background  checks are very affordable starting at $49.00. You can complete everything online and in a very short amount of time. Through their comprehensive background check, you can check for criminal activity in all 50 states – scanning as many as 300,000,000+ records!
  • Make sure you order a nanny background check as soon as you believe you have found “the one.” An online check can take 2-3 days, however the completion time varies according to candidate and state. If, in some cases you need the nanny to start immediately, put it in your work agreement that employment is dependent upon background clearance.
  • Make sure that you have authorization in writing to complete a background check on your nanny candidate. Enannysource’s process is completely online. All checks are fully FCRA compliant.
  • By all means just run the nanny’s name in a Google search. You may be surprised what you find!

Beware of websites that promise “instant” reports. These nanny background checks tend to rely entirely on information from preexisting databases that are outdated and incomplete. However, these “instant” background checks are valuable as preliminary background checks, for example in the case that you need a nanny to start right away and will have to wait a few days for the comprehensive background check.

I cannot stress enough the importance of a background check. So many people skip this step and later discover something in their nannies background that is troubling. No matter how “sweet” you nanny appears to be, no matter how many families gush about her, conduct a nanny background check.

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