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10 Benefits Employers Can Provide for Parents

Posted on February 16, 2012 by admin

Most jobs in the United States are offered with at least a minimal list of included benefits, such as medical insurance and vacation / paid time off. For parents who work full time, the needs are substantially different and, depending on the employer, those needs aren’t always addressed. There are many benefits specifically intended for working parents, and need to be universally available in our opinion. Here is a list of 10 benefits that employers can provide for parents:

  1. Maternity Leave – Time off for having a baby, and all of the inherent preparations thereof, should be available without any adverse career fallout for the expectant mother upon her return to the workforce.
  2. Flexible Spending – Dependent Care – In addition to basic health benefits, some employers offer a flexible spending option where a certain amount is available for otherwise uncovered expenses, or deductibles to cover dependent care.
  3. On-Premises Day Care – This benefit has been widely implemented among Fortune 500 companies and is an idea worth expanding. The expense would be offset through employee retention, reduced absenteeism, and increased productivity.
  4. Subsidized Off-Premises Child Care – When it’s necessary for parents to find their own care service, employers can offer compensation to help defray the cost.
  5. Unpaid Leave – FMLA, or the Family and Medical Leave Act requires employers to allow employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for personal illness, or the illness of an immediate family member, or for the birth or adoption of a child.
  6. Flexible Schedule – Another option for parents could be working flexible hours. This often helps alleviate the difficulties of coordinating child care or school drop-offs, and doctor’s appointments with work.
  7. Telecommuting – Jobs that can be performed at home can make life easier, and less costly, for parents. An added benefit to the company is reduced operating expenses at the workplace.
  8. Job Sharing – A form of part-time employment, in which two or more employees share the work and split the work hours of a single job title, allowing each to work an abbreviated schedule.
  9. In-Home Child Care – Patagonia, a company specializing in outdoor equipment and apparel, maintains a network of trained child-care providers for their employees to choose from, in lieu of using their on-site child care facilities.
  10. Education IRA – In addition to traditional 401(k) plans, some employers include the option of opening an IRA which allows an additional $500 per year, per child to be contributed to it, tax-deferred, for their college expenses.
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10 Sounds That Almost Always Frighten Infants

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

Infants and newborns have more sensitive hearing than their adult counterparts, and are often frightened of sudden, loud noises. Here are a few of the everyday sounds your infant may encounter and become frightened by.

  1. Barking Dogs – The barking of a dog can be very loud, as well as be perceived as a threatening sound by older infants. For parents with very vocal dogs and a young infant, this can be a frustrating time; thankfully, most babies will grow out of this fear as they become accustomed to it.
  2. Slamming Doors – A slamming door can startle an infant, causing them to become upset. Older children in the household should be made to understand that slamming the door will cause their sibling to become frightened and cry, which may help them remember to close doors gently.
  3. Yelling – Yelling can often go hand in hand with slamming doors and barking dogs; children come home from school full of energy and shouting, then slam the door on their way in which causes the dog to bark and ultimately, the baby to cry hysterically.
  4. A Running Blender – The rumbling, grating noise of a running blender can be very scary to little ones, especially if there’s ice inside the carafe that contributes a grinding sound.
  5. Smoke Alarms – The high pitch and extreme volume of a smoke alarm can send an infant into hysterics, as any distracted mom with a forgotten pan on the stove can attest.
  6. Loud Knocking at the Door – Because babies lack the cognitive ability to understand where a sound is coming from and what it means, the loud noise of a visitor pounding at the door can cause them to become upset.
  7. Car Horns – Because the sounds of driving can often lull an infant to sleep, many parents will take a fussy baby for a ride until they drop off. Unfortunately, the crying may become worse if an impatient driver leans on their car horn.
  8. Emergency Sirens – Parents who live near a police or fire station should steel themselves for quite a bit of crying in the first months of your newborn’s life; the shrill sounds will almost always cause an infant to panic.
  9. Fireworks – Young toddlers may love the sight of colorful fireworks exploding into the night sky, but your infant’s not-yet-developed eyes won’t be able to focus on them, and the sounds are likely to move them to terror.
  10. Cheering and Clapping – New dads who are sports fans tend to quickly learn that the shouting and cheering they’ve always done to celebrate a great play will scare the baby.

All babies are different, so the things that cause hysterics in one child may not faze another in the slightest. First time parents should keep in mind that any loud or sudden noise has the potential to frighten an infant, and remember that most grow out of this stage by toddlerhood.

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10 Reasons to Require a Nanny to be CPR Certified

Posted on February 1, 2012 by admin

All nanny jobs are different, so the qualifications for assignment will vary accordingly. A family that has put together a good job description to use when screening candidates will have a good idea of what skill set their nanny will need. One such skill that may or may not be a requirement is CPR certification. In this column, we’ll share 10 reasons to require a nanny to be CPR certified:

  1. Safety – The most obvious reason is that CPR certification means your caregiver is capable of handling a coronary emergency. This one factor can be the difference between life and death for a family member.
  2. Insurance Discounts – Some insurance providers offer incentives for such training. Ask your agent if you can get a discount on your premiums for having a live-n CPR-certified caregiver.
  3. Career Indicator – A nanny who takes the time and effort to get CPR certified is more likely to stay in the caregiver career. This is an important consideration, as turnover in this field can be high, and costly for employers.
  4. Peace of Mind – It’s difficult to leave your kids in someone else’s care, so anything that helps to set your mind at ease is a welcome measure.
  5. Geography – If your home is a considerable distance from the nearest emergency room or paramedics, CPR certification is invaluable.
  6. Heredity/Genetics – For a family with a history of heart disease, this could be a deal-breaker. Having someone in the home who can respond decisively in a medical emergency is of huge importance.
  7. No One in Family is Certified – The nanny may be the only member of the household who is certified, which could place greater importance on hiring a caregiver who fills that need.
  8. Compliance – Some municipalities make CPR certification a requirement for employment as a caregiver. In that case, it’s non-negotiable.
  9. Child with Heart Condition – If one of the children under a nanny’s care has a congenital heart disease, or other heart-related issue, this is going to be a requirement for employment with the family.
  10. Value-Added – As a condition for a pay increase or additional benefits, you can negotiate CPR  certification as a trade-off.
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10 Signs a Nanny is a Good Match for a Family

Posted on January 24, 2012 by admin

Finding the right nanny involves a lot of research, time and effort; but there are still no guarantees when all that work is done that you’ll both hit it off. Some things you just have to find out the old-fashioned way, by spending time together, and getting a feel for one another. So how, and when, do you know it’s working? Here are 10 signs that a nanny is a good match for a family

  1. The Kids Like Her – This is about as essential as it gets in finding a match. If your nanny is a hit with the kids, you’re more than halfway home.
  2. The Kids Listen to Her – As great as it is to be popular, earning the respect of your kids is essential too. If they respond to her, so much the better.
  3. You Like Her – Your personalities, philosophies about child care, and even your senses of humor all seem to click. Accent on the first two, with the latter being a bonus, you bond readily.
  4. She Has All the Right Skills – If you’ve laid out a good job description as a template, you’ve given yourself a better chance of finding a nanny who hits all the bases.
  5. Comfortable in the Home – Seeing how your nanny will be a family member in many ways, as well as an employee, it’s important that she feel at home in her work environment.
  6. Familiar with the Local Area – Chances are your nanny will be transporting the children, taking trips to the park, shopping, etc. It’s important that she know her way around your neighborhood and surrounding area.
  7. Gets Along with Family – Apart from the children, does she have a good rapport with the est of the family; neighbors and extended family members with whom she will be interacting?
  8. No Language or Cultural Barriers – Few are the families who have the luxury of getting a non-native nanny acclimated to the environment without some basic necessities. Of course there’s no reason that such obstacles would preclude a nanny from being a great match in time. However, if you aren’t able to accommodate that learning curve, then you’ll have a tough road ahead.
  9. She is Comfortable with the Work Hours – This is a huge obstacle to overcome in many nanny assignments. It more or less defines the job in a lot of ways. If the hours you need her to work don’t jibe with her schedule for any reason, it just won’t work.
  10. Everything Checks Out – All the touchy-feely factors have fallen into place; so it’s good to know that the background check and references did as well. Looks like you’ve got yourselves a nanny, folks.
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10 Ways to Figure Out What You are Looking For in a Nanny

Posted on January 15, 2012 by admin

One of the first things you need to do when searching for a nanny is to decide what it is you need from her. The only way to find a match is to know what you are matching her to exactly. So the time you invest in getting those details set down is time well-spent. The following are 10 ways to figure out what you are looking for in a nanny:

  1. Write up a Job Description – This is the most valuable tool you can have at your disposal when screening candidates. The more accurate you can be about the job, the easier it will be to find the right person for the job.
  2. How Many Kids? – nanny candidates will have varying levels of experience, and some may not have nannied more than one child at a time. Can she multitask and handle the added stress?
  3. How Old are Your Kids? – Infant care, pre-adolescent care, etc. require different skills, temperament, etc. What do your kids need from the nanny?
  4. Any Special Needs? – If you have a child with special dietary or medical needs, or requires special attention for any reason, this should be discussed up front to make sure your nanny is up to the task, and has the necessary qualifications.
  5. Live-in or Live-out – Determine whether you need your nanny to live in your home, or will be commuting to your home each day.
  6. Own Car or family Car? – If you have a family car for her to use for work, you’ll be wanting to see her driving record. If she will be needing to use her own car, make sure she has one, it’s insured, and has a clean driving record.
  7. Work Hours – You want to make sure your nanny and you are on the same page regarding the work schedule. Make sure she hasn’t got any other obligations or commitments that would conflict with her ability to work those hours.
  8. Additional Duties – If your job description includes any non-traditional tasks that you will need your nanny to do, talk about them and make sure she’s on board with all tasks required of her, and that her compensation is adequate.
  9. Environmental Issues – Is there any reason that your home might present difficulties for her – allergies, asthma.? Is your home in a remote location?
  10. Consult an Agency – Nanny agencies are experts at matching families with the right nanny. Once you’ve taken care of step one, and laid out a job description with all of your requirements, talk to the experts about finding your match.
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10 Reasons All Nanny Background Checks Aren’t Equal

Posted on January 10, 2012 by admin

You’ve heard by now of the importance of background checks when searching for a nanny; but are you aware that not all of them are the same? Depending on what resources you use, your background check may not provide you all the information you need. The following is a list of 10 reasons all nanny background checks aren’t equal:

  1. The accuracy of information from one report to another can vary greatly. Inaccuracies must be corrected by request, which is not done in many cases.
  2. Some background checks are more in-depth than others. One may include previous addresses of the applicant  that another does not. Incomplete address history will also mean incomplete info from the appropriate databases.
  3. Some reports contain information that is illegal to use for hiring purposes. Such reports can adversely affect a candidate’s ability to gain employment.
  4. Some sources will deliver outdated information, without attempting to verify or update the information. This can lead to important information being missed.
  5. Background checks are administered by a variety of individuals, from private investigators, to professional employee screening agencies. Who conducts the check has a lot to do with what sources of data are used.
  6. How a background check is used is also very dependent on who is conducting it. Some companies are more reputable and law-abiding than others, and will only use reliable sources, and focus on the information that is legally acceptable to use for hiring purposes.
  7. Background checks are available in different pricing tiers, which also differ in the sources that they use. Some provide no more data than an individual could collect on their own with a simple internet search.
  8. Background checks are usually tailored to the type of employment that the subject is applying for. Depending on the employer, there could be some differences in what information they require in the report.
  9. Some background checks even include searching social networking sites, where potential employers feel they can get a candid look at the applicant’s lifestyle, views and personality.
  10. State laws vary on what can and cannot be included in a background check for employment screening.
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10 Advantages to Getting a Nanny from an Agency

Posted on January 9, 2012 by admin

If you’re planning to hire a nanny and are undecided as to how to go about finding one, you may want to consider the advantages of having some professional help. Here are 10 advantages to getting a nanny through an agency:

  1. An agency will save you considerable time and effort in the hiring process, by doing much of the legwork and preparation for you.
  2. You will benefit from an agency’s experience in finding and screening qualified candidates, and avoid some common mistakes families often make when they do it themselves.
  3. Pre-screening the candidates for you means that those whom you meet will already be qualified, and will have been determined to be a good match for your needs. It’s less hit-and-miss, and more focused.
  4. Agencies tend to attract more qualified candidates to begin with, so that your choices will be among the best available nannies in your area.
  5. Most agencies will also offer a one-year replacement service in the event that your nanny doesn’t work out for any reason. Also, agencies hire nannies that have made a one-year commitment, and aren’t apt to work a short while, then leave.
  6. Candidates working through an agency will have previous experience in most cases, and verifiable references and work history.
  7. Agencies will also offer the family expert tax advice, which will not only make payroll easier, but also assist in negotiating a salary.
  8. An agency will provide support for the nanny after you’ve hired her as well. This will make her transition a smoother, less stressful one.
  9. Using an agency helps to smooth out the hiring process  by doing such things as background checks,  helping to negotiate salary, and with determining compensation.
  10. All you’ll need to do is interview pre-screened candidates to decide which one is best suited to your family and needs, without worrying about whether they are qualified or if their references or work history are inaccurate.
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10 Safe Ways to Interview a Nanny

Posted on January 3, 2012 by admin

Once you’ve managed to screen your nanny candidates and have completed all of the background checks and verified all of their references, it’s time to arrange the interview process. You’d like the interview to be comfortable and candid. Preferably it will be at a time and location that is convenient for both parties. So what are some good suggestions? The following are 10 safe ways to interview a nanny:

  1. Phone – If you’d like to be able to keep a script in front of you, dress comfortably, without having to meet in person just yet, the phone interview is a great option.
  2. Skype – Similarly, you can arrange to conference online via this method with the option to video-conference. It’s one step closer to a face-to-face interview, but still comfortable.
  3. In Person, in Public – You may also opt to meet at a mutually agreeable neutral location with a relaxed atmosphere. This can facilitate getting acquainted in a low-pressure setting.
  4. At Your Job – Another possibility is to set aside a block of time – a lunch or coffee break – in order to meet your candidate at your place of employment in a conference room or break area.
  5. At Nanny Agency – If you are hiring through an agency, you may be able to meet you prospective nanny on their premises.
  6. At Your Home, with 3rd Party – If you’d like to make sure that you both are comfortable meeting at your home, you can suggest a 3rd party be present. You can each have someone else at the home. This may even be a good time for her to meet the kids.
  7. At Her Home – Alternately, you can make the same arrangements, meeting at her home instead and with others present.
  8. In a Park or Playground where your children typically play. This will not only provide a relaxed atmosphere, but give her a glimpse of her work environment outside the home.
  9. At Her Job – If your nanny candidate is presently working and can arrange for it, you may choose to get together at her place of employment on a break. This might provide you with an added dimension of your candidate too.
  10.  One on One – With any luck, you’ve each worked your way through the screening process to the point where your family and your nanny are ready to meet in person and talk about her new job,and your new family member.
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10 Recommended Nanny Payroll Services for Families

Posted on December 31, 2011 by admin

When hiring a nanny, one of the biggest, and sometimes difficult to navigate, concerns is payroll. It can be a daunting tax for a family to maintain accurate records and calculate taxes properly. That’s where a good payroll service comes in, which can be worth its weight in gold. The following are 10 recommended payroll services for families:

  1.  HomeWorkSolutions – NaniPay offers quarterly as well as annual tax reporting, and direct deposit. You can set up for weekly or bi-weekly pay periods,  and electronic fund transfer (EFT).
  2. GTM Payroll Services – GTM Household provides four payroll options for you to choose from, including payroll with tax filing, or tax filing only.
  3. Breedlove and Associates – Started in 1992 by a former household employer couple, Breedlove offers total payroll management: paperless payroll stubs to employee and family; prepare federal and state tax returns, archive all documents online for your review.
  4. Intuit Online Payroll – Paycycle lets you create paychecks online, automatically withholds taxes and deductions, with guaranteed accurate calculations and a free 30-day trial offer.
  5. SurePayroll – Another online service, SurePayroll lets you pay via direct deposit or self-printed checks; you just log in to a secure account, enter your nanny’s hours, preview the deductions and approve. Your work is done.
  6. NannyPay – Essentia Software Corporation offers a 30-day free trial of NannyPay. Calculate state and federal taxes; print pay stubs, liability forms, even  payroll data directly onto W-2 forms.
  7. NannyChex – Specializing in payroll services for household employees since 1995; free registration, quarterly and yearly tax reporting. Easy to use paycheck calculator for figuring deductions on site.
  8. Beacon Hill Nannies, Inc. – With EasyManage™ payroll service, you write one check per month, and beacon Hill will do the rest: twice monthly paychecks via direct deposit, automatic withholding of taxes/deductions, and complete filing of all tax forms and reports.
  9. Wizard Payroll Company – Wizard Payroll offers weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly ans monthly payroll options. Direct deposit, tax filings and check signings are also included.
  10. 4NannyTaxes.com – In addition to NaniPay, HomeWorkSolutions offers a suite of other services which will help you navigate your nanny’s taxes, deductions, and make sure you are both in compliance with all tax laws.
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10 Reasons to Require a Nanny to Have a Car

Posted on December 28, 2011 by admin

When hiring a nanny, you should decide early on whether you prefer a live-in or live-out caregiver. You will also need to determine whether you require her to have her own car. The following are ten reasons to require a nanny to have a car:

  1. A live-out nanny will need to be able to commute reliably to and from your home. This might necessitate having her own transportation.
  2. Your family vehicles are needed for your own commutes and there are no additional vehicles available.
  3. If your budget won’t allow you to have a family car available to her, she will need to use her own vehicle for transportation. This, however, will mean providing compensation of some sort.
  4. You may also wish to save on your own car insurance by having your nanny operate and insure her own vehicle.
  5. It may be a good idea to have your nanny use her own car for a while until you feel comfortable allowing her to use a family vehicle.
  6. If your new nanny has any moving violations on her driving record, but is otherwise fully qualified and a good match for the family, having her use her own car until her violations are removed might be advisable.
  7. If your nanny uses her car instead of yours, you can also save on fuel costs. This makes it more cost-effective to compensate your nanny for the use of her car.
  8. Maintenance and repair bills on your family car can also add up quickly. If your nanny uses her car, you can provide additional incentives, like paid time off, or a health club membership, and still save money.
  9. If your nanny has her own vehicle,in addition to your family vehicle(s), you have some added insurance that reliable transportation would be available in an emergency.
  10. Your nanny’s car would make the logistics of getting your vehicles serviced a lot easier. You could rotate all vehicles for repairs and maintenance as needed, without being short of transportation.
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