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Hiring a full-time babysitter - questions?

dle927dle927 member
in Upstate NY Babies

I am looking into hiring someone to watch LO's full-time.  I'm meeting her soon to start discussions (so far we've had brief chats) and I want to start thinking about details we may need to work out.  Has anyone gone this route?  Have a contract with the person?  How do you hash out pay, grace days, vacations?

Someone at DD's daycare is interested in going in with us so we may be looking at three children if this woman will watch them. 

Truthfully, I think DD does really well at daycare but this could save us 6000 a year. 

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Re: Hiring a full-time babysitter - questions?

  • abba916abba916

    I dont have a full-time sitter but I've thought about it...

    I def think it should all be in writing- how much, the hours, what/ if any her pay will be for late pick up, etc.

    Does your current daycare close at all during the year? I think you should give her at least 2 weeks off in the year (maybe not consecutive)- you could do pre set weeks or  she has to give you a month notice...plus the typical holidays- day after thanksgiving, day after christmas, maybe the friday before easter (if thats important to her)

    I would have a back up plan for if she gets sick (she has to tell you within 24 hours or something to give you time to find a backup)-

    Where is she going to watch the kids? her place? your place?  

    June would be a good person to ask since she was a nanny and she still watches kids... 

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  • June4bride2beJune4bride2be

    abba covered a lot, but it is going to depend a lot on if your using a nanny or home daycare. I have contracts for both you can see if you would like....feel free to email me with questions! I have been doing this stuff for 6+ years!

    twistedpalms0607 at yahoo dot com 

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  • Bonnesetter27Bonnesetter27 member

    I used to be a full-time sitter/nanny. I didn't have anything in writing and I really wish I had. The hours we talked about when I interviewed was not the hours I ended up working. Also I had a flat rate-per week but this kept biting me in the butt because they would ask me to come in early or stay late and not get paid for it, so I would do an hourly rate. 

    I had all the typical holidays off but occasionally she would call and tell me not to come in (kids at playdates etc) and I didn't get paid for those days (which is rather unfair since I would get a call the morning I was suppose to work). I would talk about giving her a set amount of sick days so that doesn't become an issue.

    Also for her and you, you might want to talk to an accountant about salary. I know I worked under the table and because of it my taxes were messed up.

    You may also want to talk to her about what her responsibilities are each day. Will she have to do laundry? Cook? Clean?

     


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  • dle927dle927 member

    Thank you both!

    We would propose that this woman work in my home.  She actually is employed currently at DD's daycare so I am certain she has some ideas about how this would work. 

    June - I would love to see contracts. I'll send you an email sometime today.  Thanks!

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  • dle927dle927 member
    imageBonnesetter27:

    I used to be a full-time sitter/nanny. I didn't have anything in writing and I really wish I had. The hours we talked about when I interviewed was not the hours I ended up working. Also I had a flat rate-per week but this kept biting me in the butt because they would ask me to come in early or stay late and not get paid for it, so I would do an hourly rate. 

    I had all the typical holidays off but occasionally she would call and tell me not to come in (kids at playdates etc) and I didn't get paid for those days (which is rather unfair since I would get a call the morning I was suppose to work). I would talk about giving her a set amount of sick days so that doesn't become an issue.

    Also for her and you, you might want to talk to an accountant about salary. I know I worked under the table and because of it my taxes were messed up.

    You may also want to talk to her about what her responsibilities are each day. Will she have to do laundry? Cook? Clean?

     

    Thanks for this! 

     My goal in this is to not have her regret her decision and quit.  Certainly don't want to take advantage of her.  I do get quite a few vacation days - about 23 a year -  and about 18 paid holidays through my work.  I realize I would have to sort out how to pay her for these (have her provide me with "grace" days as they do in daycare).  I would certainly accomodate her vacation schedule, even if it meant that I would have to take vacation at the same time. 

    And her responsibilities would be for the kids and making them (herself) lunch and snacks.  I would not have her clean or do laundry, etc. 

     

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  • dle927dle927 member
    imageBonnesetter27:

    I used to be a full-time sitter/nanny. I didn't have anything in writing and I really wish I had. The hours we talked about when I interviewed was not the hours I ended up working. Also I had a flat rate-per week but this kept biting me in the butt because they would ask me to come in early or stay late and not get paid for it, so I would do an hourly rate. 

    I had all the typical holidays off but occasionally she would call and tell me not to come in (kids at playdates etc) and I didn't get paid for those days (which is rather unfair since I would get a call the morning I was suppose to work). I would talk about giving her a set amount of sick days so that doesn't become an issue.

    Also for her and you, you might want to talk to an accountant about salary. I know I worked under the table and because of it my taxes were messed up.

    You may also want to talk to her about what her responsibilities are each day. Will she have to do laundry? Cook? Clean?

     

    Thanks for this! 

     My goal in this is to not have her regret her decision and quit.  Certainly don't want to take advantage of her.  I do get quite a few vacation days - about 23 a year -  and about 18 paid holidays through my work.  I realize I would have to sort out how to pay her for these (have her provide me with "grace" days as they do in daycare).  I would certainly accomodate her vacation schedule, even if it meant that I would have to take vacation at the same time. 

    And her responsibilities would be for the kids and making them (herself) lunch and snacks.  I would not have her clean or do laundry, etc. 

     

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