Nanny decisions

PeachGal23

Now that we're really getting close and likely finalizing child care arrangements, do any of you have a nanny or plan to hire one when this baby arrives?  DD is currently in day care and will be through my maternity leave, and we plan to have a full-time nanny start a few weeks before I return to work.  She'll end up caring for both kids, and DD will switch over to a 2-day preschool to keep up the group learning/ socialization.  My husband and I will be interviewing candidates this weekend, and we need to pin down some of the details.  If any of you are also in this stage, I'd love to hear how you currently handle or plan to handle these aspects:
(1) how many paid vacation/ sick days?  We're thinking 2 weeks paid vacation (one week our choice), and maybe 3 sick days/ year.
(2) are you using a payroll company to manage paychecks and tax filings?
(3) will you allow the nanny to drive the child(ren)?
(4) are you paying hourly or salary?  We are thinking hourly with a guaranteed 40 per week, likely more with overtime pay.  

SkiChic626

I've never used one, and don't plan to, but just wanted to throw out there to make sure you have contingencies in place for sick days and unexpected things happening.  I know several people who have used nannies and they all ended up switching back to daycare because relying on one person just wasn't working out.  God-forbid something happens and the nanny can't be there or bails for no reason.  Not to discourage, just wanted to throw that out there based on friends and co-workers from whom I've heard nanny stories.

kwilliams3402

We are on several daycare waitlists and will start down the nanny route August 1st if we haven't gotten into a daycare.  We are looking at using a search firm.  Many search firms will cover nanny sick days or replacement nannies as part of the search firm fee upfront, and it sounds worth it to us to do that. 

PeachGal23

We are fortunate to have several candidates who all came highly recommended from friends who no longer needed their nanny, but I agree it's always good to have contingencies in place.  The day care DD is currently at offers "drop-in" care, and my job is pretty flexible if I need to stay home for a short period of time.  I looked into some search firms, but they were outrageously expensive (fee based on percentage of nanny's yearly income), but it's a consideration if you don't have any personal recommendations.  If it doesn't work out, I have no problem going the day care route for them both.

rvamom90

Hi @PeachGal23. I actually work for a company that deals with something similar to this.

Regarding your questions:

1. I think the 2 weeks of vacation is great especially if you're dictating when 1 of those weekends is being taken. 3 to 5 sick days is typical. Have you thought of how you'll handle holidays?

2. 

PeachGal23

Thanks so much, @skelly1990!  I get 10 paid federal holidays off each year, and we plan to give those same holidays off to the nanny as paid.  

bsckgb7

(1) how many paid vacation/ sick days?  We're thinking 2 weeks paid vacation (one week our choice), and maybe 3 sick days/ year.

(2) are you using a payroll company to manage paychecks and tax filings? I am a CPA and would absolutely recommend going this route to save yourself headache. 

(3) will you allow the nanny to drive the child(ren)? I think you have to be comfortable with this for emergencies, and would think you would want them to go to outside-the-home activities.  Just decide whether it's a vehicle you provide or their own. 

(4) are you paying hourly or salary?  We are thinking hourly with a guaranteed 40 per week, likely more with overtime pay.   What about doing "comp" time and/or over-time?  Then they could "bank" some sick time or additional vacation for personal errands.  There will times a nanny may need to leave early for doctors appointments, but wouldn't need a full sick day or vacation day.  So then, they would have a few hours in "comp" time so they could leave a little early.  I guess that depends on how much overtime you think their will be?  Also, don't forget about mandatory "breaks" and some of that would depend on hourly/salary. 

rvamom90

@PeachGal23 the Bump keeps eating the rest of my response. 

2. Definitely use a payroll company and a CPA to ensure all of the right taxes are being taken out and filed on your end.

3. Do a background investigation and run a DMV check. If using the nanny's car, a mileage stipend or the IRS mileage fee should be included. 

4. Most likely, the nanny only qualifies as an hourly employee and doesn't meet the threshold requirements for a salaried, exempt position. 

Fremdschamen

We're going to nanny-share with my BFF starting in October (I will be on maternity leave until January, but my BFF goes back to work in October, so we'll have the nanny start then as a "mother's helper").  I'm a little sad about pulling DD from her daycare, but we may leave her in once a week just for the social aspect.

We'll likely give her two-three weeks vacation.  My husband's job will be flexible, and mine is too, to some degree, plus there will be four available parents to take on some of the time, which makes it easier.

I'd prefer to use a payroll company/CPA, but I'm going to ask DH if he wants to do it, since he doesn't mind figuring that stuff out.  If he doesn't want to, then we'll have a payroll company do it.

We'll likely buy a minivan for the nanny to drive.

Probably hourly, 35-40 hours per week.

PeachGal23

@bsckgb7 - Love the ideas about banking comp or credit time!

kwilliams3402

PeachGal23 said:

@bsckgb7 - Love the ideas about banking comp or credit time!

Ditto! Hadn't thought of that, and we'd definitely do that if we go the nanny route!

texasmama2014

No nanny, but my mom keeps DD (and will keep LO) 4 days per week, and things come up which leave me in a crunch/panic more often than I'd like (sickness, last minute dr. apts, life in general).  I would definitely look at what your "village" is like and if any of them might be able to help you at some point in a crunch.  I was saved many times by my sister who had a weird work schedule, and her SIL who didn't work Fridays.

DressageDarling

I previously was a full time nanny, so I have a slightly different perspective.

1) I think the amount of paid vacation time is a good amount. I rarely needed sick days, so I can't comment on the amount of sick days needed but three does sound appropriate. 

2) An outside person handling payroll would be a good idea. I had issues with incorrect amounts on checks or late payment when it was just handled by the family themselves. 

3) I was allowed to drive children in my previous nannying jobs. The family did have a background check done prior to me starting. One family I was paid per mile driven.

4) I preferred salaried positions. It was much simpler on both ends. I may have worked a few extra hours one week, but it would all eventually even out.

beenabee

I was a full-time nanny, definitely agree with salary positions being easier and I preferred them over hourly positions. Also, I don't think 3 sick days is enough I would do maybe 5. I nannied 3 young kids over 9 hours a day 5 days a week and they were constantly getting sick because the older two were in daycare part-time still so I was always catching whatever they got but if your kid doesn't go to daycare and doesn't get sick often then 3-4 sounds good. Love the idea of comp time!