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Frequently Asked Questions for Families
What duties can I expect a nanny to perform?
The primary duty of a nanny is to provide full-time or part-time care for one or more children in a family home. You can reasonably expect the nanny to be available to be responsible for general housekeeping related to the children, including:
You will need to discuss whether the nanny is amenable to the following additional duties that fall into the category of housekeeping:
Most nannies will not assume additional housekeeping duties unrelated to the children without additional compensation.
How does the nanny placement process work?
You may submit an online family application to any of our locations throughout the country at www.anannyonthenet.com . Before we can proceed with the placement process you will need to complete and fax to us our standard agency agreement, and submit an online or faxed payment of the application fee. We will call you to schedule a telephone interview to review the criteria specified in your family application. We will forward via email profiles of candidates that are well-suited for your family. Interviews with the nannies are scheduled by the family. You may choose to conduct an initial telephone interview, or you may proceed directly with an in-person, in-home interview. Once you have extended an offer of employment, the placement fee is due. We will then proceed with the background screening and forward results to you within two to three business days. All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background screening.
We recommend that you and the nanny complete and sign a Family & Nanny Work Agreement which serves as your employment contract. This agreement serves to level-set expectations, and often is a great resource to have should any issues arise in the future. At the end of the process, the nanny is available to begin providing care to your child(ren).
How long will it take your agency to find a nanny for my family?
The placement process can take anywhere from one week to a month. The process is not constrained by our agency, but rather by the family. We will provide candidates to you within 24 hours of receiving your application, signed agreement and application fee. Time is of the essence in terms of scheduling interviews with the candidates. A candidate that is available today may not be available tomorrow or next week. We are not at liberty to “reserve” a candidate for placement with your family. Thus it is very important that you schedule interviews as quickly as is reasonably possible to both ensure that that “perfect” candidate will be available for your family, and to ensure that your nanny is in place by your specified timeframe. Keep in mind that the background screening takes two to three business days to complete. Factor this constraint into your timetable.
How far in advance should I submit my application to your agency?
You may submit your application at any time. However, because the search process can take anywhere from one week to a month, we suggest that you submit your application at least four to six weeks prior to the desired start date for your nanny.
I will need a nanny in about four months. Can I submit my application now?
Yes, you can submit your application at any time. However, nannies tend to begin their search for new positions about six to eight weeks prior to their desired start date. The nanny candidate applicant pool is extremely fluid. Candidates who are available months prior to when you would need them to start, will not be available when you need them to start. Thus it is best to start the search in earnest about four to six weeks prior to the desired start date for your nanny. We can keep your application on file, and keep your family in mind as the time progresses toward your desired start date for your nanny.
What are the fees associated with using your agency?
$ 100.00 Family Application Fee $ 35.00 Daily Placement Fee for Temporary Nanny $1200.00 One-Time Placement Fee for Part-Time / Short-Term / Summer Nanny $1600.00 One-Time Placement Fee for Full-Time Nanny (27 or more hours/week) $2100.00 One-Time Placement Fee for Live-In Nanny
How do I pay the application fee?
You may pay your application fee online, via fax or via telephone. Online payment can be made immediately following submission of your application. Otherwise an agency representative will be happy to either email a credit card authorization form so that you may fax your payment, or collect payment information via telephone.
How do I pay the placement fee?
You may provide payment via fax or via telephone. An agency representative will be happy to either email a credit card authorization form so that you may fax your payment, or collect payment information via telephone.
Another family and I would like to participate in a nanny share arrangement. Do both families have to pay the agency fees?
Each family must submit a separate family application and pay a separate family application fee. In addition to the normal placement fee, there will be a 25% surcharge.
Why should I use the services of your agency versus other agencies in the area?
Our agency is one of few in the country who only represent professional nannies with a minimum of three years of childcare experience. You can rest assured that your child is receiving the very best care from an experienced professional. We perform our due diligence in ensuring that we refer candidates that are safe, qualified and committed.
Our agency is also one of few in the country who offer a one-year guarantee on placements. You will never be left without care for your child(ren) should a situation arise that results in the termination of the nanny's employment with your family. We will provide a replacement at no additional charge to you anytime during the first year of employment with your family.
Finally, we pride ourselves on providing highly personalized service. You will never receive a referral that does not match your family's search criteria. You will never have to self-screen applicants because we have sent you a dozen candidates. We do our very best to get it right the first time.
Why should I use the services of your agency versus just placing an advertisement in the newspaper?
The value proposition is strong. Consider this…
The most qualified, professional nannies seek representation by placement agencies. Why? Because we also represent wonderful families who understand and acknowledge the valuable contributions that nannies make, and who are prepared to provide excellent salaries & benefits and offer long-term employment. If you want to hire the crème de la crème of nannies, you will want to use the services of an agency.
Your time is valuable. Is it worth $25 per hour, $50 per hour…or more? If you were to place an advertisement in the newspaper you most likely will be inundated with dozens if not hundreds of inquiries, often from candidates who are not qualified or who are not legally authorized to work in the United States . Oftentimes this type of search process can be very frustrating and yield no results.
We are dedicated professionals who have a passion for making great connections between nannies and families. Our agency does all of the leg work for you. We have verified the references. We have administered a personality test. We have conducted the statewide criminal and department of motor vehicles background screening. We have been in business long enough to weed through the myriad of candidates who are merely looking for a job, any job. We know how to read the signs of lack of commitment. We know what to look for in terms of who has a genuine love of children.
We do more than just provide nanny referrals. We can assist you with knowing what to ask during an interview, drafting employment contracts, determining what taxes are required and how to pay them, and offering a fair and desirable compensation package.
Finally, because attrition can be very high in the nanny profession, you might find yourself placing an advertisement over and over again if your nanny quits or just does not work out. Our nannies commit to at least a one-year term of employment. If the arrangement does not work out for any reason, we will find a replacement…no questions asked….no additional fees.
What is the weekly salary for a nanny?
A philosophical answer….
A good question to ask is, how valuable will the nanny be to your family? A strong compensation package is the key to hiring an extremely qualified nanny who will be committed to your family for the long-term. You never want to offer a mediocre salary, as it will result in a nanny who is constantly looking for a better position. Consider that nannies are professionals who make their living caring for the children of others. They should not be considered as uneducated, domestic employees who do not provide a valuable service.
Oftentimes nannies become members of the family, and are second mothers or grandmothers. It has been said many times over that teaching is among the most underpaid, undervalued, yet most important professions in the world. Nannies can be placed in a similar category. Consider what you might pay weekly if your child(ren) were in a crème de la crème, NAEYC accredited daycare center with a 3:1 or 4:1 or 6:1 or 8:1 child/caregiver ratio. Now consider the 1:1 ratio that a nanny would provide your family. Would you not be willing to offer a salary of double or triple the cost of a daycare? Compensate your nanny well. Your nanny will be happy. Your children will be happy. You will be happy.
The real answer….
Salaries can vary based on a number of factors. Factors to consider are the age and number of children requiring care, the nanny's years of experience and formal education, additional household duties required, number of hours required, and the type of hours required. Consider whether the nanny will be working before 6:00AM , after 6:00PM , overnight, or traditional day-time. Nannies caring for younger children, caring for multiple children, working beyond a 40-hour work week, or working non-traditional work hours command higher salaries.
You can expect to pay about $500-750 per week for a full-time nanny for a 40-hour work week based on the criteria mentioned above. This translates into a part-time salary of $13-20 per hour.
Our agency does not regulate or determine nanny salaries and associated benefits. Families negotiate salaries and benefits with each respective nanny.
What other benefits will I need to provide the nanny?
Additional benefits to consider are health and dental insurance, use of a family car or transportation allowance, paid vacation, paid sick leave, 401K, the opportunity for paid-travel and expenses on family vacations, and a continuing education allowance for childcare related education. Families often pay for CPR and First Aid recertification.
The standard benefits for a full-time nanny (live-in or live-out) include health/dental insurance or a coverage stipend, two weeks of paid vacation, federal holidays off, and six days of paid sick leave. A gas/mileage allowance is offered if the nanny will be using her vehicle to transport the children.
Live-in nannies are also offered housing, to include a separate bedroom, separate bathroom, and use of the common spaces within the home. Use of a family car is standard. If the nanny is relocating to accept a position with your family, your family should consider paying for one-way airline, train or bus fare and other travel-related expenses.
To attract the best nannies, you should offer as comprehensive a benefits package as is reasonably affordable for your family.
What happens if my nanny quits?
We ask that the family and nanny try to resolve any differences. However, if this is not possible, our agency offers a one-year guarantee on all permanent placements. If your nanny quits during the first year of the her employment with your family, our agency will provide a replacement at no additional charge for the remaining months of the first year. Should your family continue to employ the replacement beyond the remaining months of the first year of the original contract, a prorated placement fee will be charged.
Similarly, short-term and summer placements (three months or less) are guaranteed for the period specified in the original employment contract. Should your nanny quit during the contracted period, our agency will provide a replacement at no additional charge for the remaining months of the contracted period. Should your family continue to employ the replacement beyond the contracted period, a prorated permanent placement fee will be charged.
Application fees and placement fees are non-refundable.
What happens if I do not like my nanny and want to fire her?
We ask that the family and nanny try to resolve any differences. However, if this is not possible, our agency offers a one-year guarantee on all permanent placements. If you fire your nanny anytime during the first year of her employment with your family, our agency will provide a replacement at no additional charge for the remaining months of the first year. Should your family continue to employ the replacement beyond the remaining months of the first year of the original contract, a prorated placement fee will be charged.
Similarly, short-term and summer placements (three months or less) are guaranteed for the period specified in the original employment contract. Should you fire anytime during the contracted period, our agency will provide a replacement at no additional charge for the remaining months of the contracted period. Should your family continue to employ the replacement beyond the contracted period, a prorated permanent placement fee will be charged.
Application fees and placement fees are non-refundable.
When should I hire a full-time nanny?
There are many circumstances under which our agency would recommend that you hire a full-time nanny and/or offer a full-time salary. A few are outlined below:
For the purposes of outlining our agency fee schedule, we consider a full-time nanny any nanny that works 27 our more hours per week. However, the standard work week for a full-time nanny is 40 hours per week. If your family situation is similar to any of those outlined above, we would recommend a full-time nanny to offer you added flexibility and a larger applicant pool from which to select. Part-time nannies who are required to work a nearly full-time schedule or who are required to exercise a great deal of flexibility in terms of the hours that they will need to be available are hard to come by. You would be better served hiring a full-time nanny.
When should I hire a part-time nanny?
There are many circumstances under which our agency would recommend that you hire a part-time nanny. A few are outlined below:
Most part-time nannies provide care in minimum five-hour block of time. It is extremely difficult to find nannies to provide before and after school care because of the unpaid downtime in the middle of the day.
When should I use the temporary placement service?
If you are seeking in-home childcare for a day or two here and there, during spring break, winter break, on federal holidays, for a weekend, or for an occasional night out you should use our temporary placement service. The temporary placement service might be ideal if you need a nanny to travel with your family during family vacations to provide a helping hand. The service is not meant to be used beyond three to four weeks.
When should I use the short-term placement service?
If you are seeking in-home childcare on a full-time or part-time basis for one to three months, you should use our short-term placement process. Beyond about four weeks, it becomes cost prohibitive to utilize our temporary placement service which charges daily placement fee. Because you will not need the nanny beyond a few months, there is no need to pay a larger permanent placement fee. Thus the short-term placement service is ideal for those seeking care between nannies, between au pairs, for the summer, during periods between when maternity leave expires and a daycare position opens, when mom needs a little extra help with other children in the house during the first months following the birth of a child a new baby, when a mother's helper is needed to support the family during short periods when a parent has to dedicate more time to caring for a sick child or spouse, when a new mom may be experiencing post partum depression, etc.
When should I use the permanent placement service?
If you are seeking in-home childcare on a full-time or part-time basis for a period that exceeds three months, you should use our permanent placement process. This allows more flexibility in terms of the length of time the nanny can be available to your family. There is a one-time placement fee, even if the nanny is employed with your family beyond one year. Thus, the permanent placement service is ideal if your family needs a long-term nanny.
Why are the nanny salaries that you suggest much higher than those quoted by other agencies, or by nannies that advertise their services?
We represent professional nannies. Ever heard the adage “you get what you pay for”? This is quite appropriate when considering what an appropriate salary should be for a nanny. Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications. Our nannies have a minimum of three years of experience. Being a nanny is their chosen profession.
Many nannies who are not offered or who do not command a competitive salary will find themselves looking for a new position very quickly. Many nannies are not legally authorized to work in the United States , and require that their employers pay a cash salary. Because they do not have to pay taxes, they can afford a lower salary. Of course this is illegal, and in the long run does not benefit the nanny or the family.
All of the nannies that your agency referred to me require salaries higher than I can afford? Will you refund my application fee?
The application fee is non-refundable. Our agency does not regulate or determine nanny salaries and associated benefits. All salary and benefits negotiations are handled between the family and the nannies. We have no control over the salary and benefits that a nanny is requesting to accept a position within your family. We do ask that the nanny and the family are both flexible when working through the negotiations. However, ultimately the decision is the family's to make as to how much it is willing to offer, and the nanny's as to how much or little she is willing to accept.
We provide a realistic picture of what the salary ranges and associated benefits are in your area of the country. These are ranges based on what we see occurring in the marketplace, and are meant to guide you in determining what you should offer.
I can not afford a full-time nanny based on the salaries you recommend? What does your agency suggest?
Perhaps a neighbor, co-worker or family friend is also seeking a nanny. If so, you may want to consider a nanny share. Usually a nanny share works best when there are three or fewer children within no more than two families. There are benefits of splitting the cost of the nanny and socialization for the children. The nanny also benefits by being offered a slightly higher salary than if she were working for one family. Nanny shares work best if the children are of similar ages, or if the there is (for example) a high maintenance aged child paired with a low maintenance aged child.
You may also want to consider offering a slightly lower salary, and compensate with other benefits like more paid sick leave, more vacation time, or summers off.
You can consider hiring a nanny who would like to bring her child to work with her. You benefit from paying a slightly lower salary. The nanny benefits by having her child with her daily. The children benefit by increased opportunities for socialization. The key to success is the nanny's ability to care for her and your child simultaneously and equally. She must offer even care, attention, time, and love. She must provide consistent, positive discipline.
Finally, you can consider offering a slightly lower salary initially, with guarantees of graduated increases in three, six or nine months.
What taxes am I required to pay?
The nanny will become a household employee of your family. In addition to the nanny's weekly or hourly salary, you will be responsible for paying 100% of the nanny's federal and state unemployment insurance, 50% of the nanny's Medicare tax, and 50% of the nanny's social security tax. These taxes translate to approximately 8-10% of the nanny's gross salary. You are not required to withhold the nanny's federal and state unemployment tax, though many families offer this as a convenience to the nanny.
There is support available to answer questions about nanny payroll and taxes. Nanny Pay ( www.nannypay.com ) is excellent software to use if you would like to handle nanny payroll and taxes in house. If you would like to outsource these functions, Breedlove & Associates ( www.breedlove-online.com ) and GTM Associates ( www.gtmassociates.com ) can handle all of your payroll and tax withholding needs.
If you would like to estimate how taxes impact the overall expense of hiring a nanny in your state, visit http://www.breedlove-online.com/taxes.html . Based on a gross salary, you can determine what the nanny's take-home pay will be after taxes, as well as calculate what additional expenses you will have beyond her gross salary.
How do I offer health insurance, dental insurance, and 401K benefits to my nanny?
There are plenty of firms available to assist with including these benefits in your nanny's overall compensation package. For example, Eisenberg Associates ( www.eisenbergassociates.com ) offers Nanny health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, dental insurance, and IRA-Retirement Plans.
What sources do you use to recruit your nannies?
Our candidates find us by submitting an application via our website at www.anannyonthenet.com . We also recruit through local parenting magazines, nanny conferences, nanny schools and institutes. Many candidates are referred to us by other nannies that have had such wonderful experiences working with our agency to find employment. We are members of the International Nanny Association, which provides additional access to qualified candidates.
What process do you use to screen your nannies?
Only candidates who have a minimum of three years of childcare experience are allowed to register with our agency. We conduct a thorough interview for all nannies. We administer a personality assessment. We verify all childcare references using a fifteen-point questionnaire. We conduct a background screening which includes a statewide criminal background check, credit check, and department of motor vehicles check.
Candidates must be CPR and First Aid certified, or must be willing to become certified prior to commencement of employment.
Are the nannies employees of your agency?
The nannies are not employees of our agency. Nannies who are seeking employment register with our agency. We refer the most qualified candidates to families like yours. Upon hire, the nanny becomes a household employee of your family.
What guarantee does your agency provide?
Our agency offers a one-year guarantee on all permanent placements. Should any event transpire (excluding family relocation) such that the nanny's employment is terminated either by the family or the nanny during the first year of the nanny's employment with your family, our agency will provide a replacement at no additional charge for the remaining months of the first year. Should your family continue to employ the replacement beyond the remaining months of the first year of the original contract, a prorated placement fee will be charged.
Similarly, short-term and summer placements (three months or less) are guaranteed for the period specified in the original employment contract. Should any event transpire (excluding family relocation) such that the nanny's employment is terminated either by the family or the nanny during the contracted period, our agency will provide a replacement at no additional charge for the remaining months of the contracted period. Should your family continue to employ the replacement beyond the contracted period, a prorated permanent placement fee will be charged.
Application fees and placement fees are non-refundable.
How many candidates will your agency refer?
It is not a numbers game. We are not in the business of referring a database of candidates that you then have to self-screen. We will refer at least three candidates who are qualified for the position that you are offering based on the criteria specified in your family application. Hopefully we will get it right on the first iteration. Otherwise, we continue to refer candidates until we find the ideal (or close to ideal) person for your family.
Do your nannies speak English?
We refer only candidates that have a good command of spoken English. Many of our candidates are bilingual or trilingual. You may assess your comfort level with candidates who have acquired English as a second language during a telephone or in-person interview.
Most of the nannies that we refer to families can drive. Others do not drive. You can specify whether driving is a requirement when you complete your family application.
What are the ages of the nannies that you refer?
The nannies that we refer range in age from 21 – 80 years old. While you may specify an age preference on your family application, our agency does not discriminate based on age or any other factor when referring candidates to families.
What other things do I need to know about hiring a nanny?
Nannies are as much members of your family as they are employees of your family. The nanny/family relationship is highly personal. After all, the nanny is caring for your children, and providing the same type of love and care, nurturing and stimulating learning environment, and comfort that you would provide. A nanny has a great impact and influence on your child's development. Therefore, treat the nanny as a member of your family.
Nannies are as selective about the families that they work for, as the families are selective about the nannies that they hire. Many a nanny have declined an offer of employment by families. The interview is a chance to get to know each other to assess fit, not an opportunity to interrogate, demean or belittle. Great nannies do not come a dime a dozen. Thus, the crème de la crème nannies “interview” the families as well.
Time is of the essence when candidates are referred to your family. A nanny that is available today may not be available tomorrow or next week. Please schedule interviews with referrals as soon as possible to ensure that that your ideal Mary Poppins will be available for your family. Our agency does not reserve candidates for any particular family. Keep in mind that nannies are free agents who register with a number of agencies. They have numerous opportunities for employment available to them.
To be competitive, please conduct timely interviews, do not request unreasonable duties, and offer competitive compensation packages.
Complete a work agreement with the nanny. The nanny/family work agreement, while a bit formal in an otherwise informal or highly personal relationship, serves to level-set expectations. It is also a great resource to refer to should any issues arise in the future.
For questions not addressed on this page, please feel free to submit your questions using the form below.
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