Tipsheet: Questions Nannies Should Ask

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Tipsheet: Questions Nannies Should Ask

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Home \ 10 Tips Series \ Tipsheet: Questions Nannies Should Ask

Ten Tips: Questions Nannies Should Ask

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nanny job interview
  1. Childcare duties: Ask the family to be specific about their expectations. Rephrase their expectations back to them to be sure you understand. "So you expect me to prepare Suzie's breakfast and lunch, include outdoor play time weather permitted, tidy up after her messes, and launder her clothes and bedding weekly, correct?" You will want to cover any allergies, dietary restrictions and health concerns here, especially if you will be responsible for administration of medications.

  2. Hours: Are they defined or flexible? How much notice of schedule changes? Any weekend or night work required?

  3. Compensation, Taxes & the Work Agreement: Ask for compensation in hourly wage terms, and work out a weekly guarantee if at all possible. Will you be paid every week of the year, even if family doesn't need you for some or all of a week? Address overtime. How frequently will you be paid and how are employment and income taxes to be handled? Ask for a copy of the family's Nanny Work Agreement to review.
  1. Benefits: Full time nannies typically expect 2 weeks paid time off per year. This covers vacation, sick and personal time off. Are their any other benefits - health insurance, cell phone, or club memberships?

  2. Housekeeping duties: All nannies should expect to be responsible for their charge's meals and laundry, and tidying up after activities. Some families request "Light Housekeeping" - make sure this is defined! A family that needs the heavy cleaning done (floors, bathrooms, windows) typically has better luck adding a weekly or bi-weekly cleaning service.

  3. Family discipline philosophy: You and the family must act as a team consistently following the same parenting and discipline styles. Are the parents authoritarian, permissive, authoritative or uninvolved? Do they want the nanny to help their child learn responsibility (help with pick-up, learn to make their bed) or to have the nanny do this for the child? How do they discipline the child? Are you comfortable with the parents' approach? A nanny should NEVER physically discipline a charge.

  4. Automobile Use: Will you be driving the child to pre-school, appointments, or other activities? Who provides the car? Car seats? If using nanny's vehicle (not suggested) how is mileage reimbursed?

  5. Travel requirements: Are you expected to travel with the family for work or vacation? If so how often, how much advance notice, and how is the work compensated?

  6. Communication: Watch how the parents interact with each other and with you in the interview. Ask the parents which one of them will be the nanny's primary point of contact? Do they require a Nanny Log? Will they provide you detailed instruction of what is to be done and how, or provide you goals and allow you latitude on how you accomplish them? Which style do YOU prefer? Would you feel comfortable addressing a difficult subject with the parents?

  7. Family Plans: Will your charge be going to preschool? When? Will this change your job? How? Do they have plans to have more children? Children grow and a nanny's job is not permanent. You need this information to make an informed choice.

Final Tip: Insist on a written work agreement. Taking the time at the beginning of the employment relationship to define all aspects of the relationship will engage parents and nanny in a conversation about their specific requirements and expectations. Additionally, by addressing all 'issues' up front, you avoid misunderstandings, assumptions, disappointment and conflict in the future. Experts agree - a good nanny:family work agreement is an important foundation for the good relationship you hope to have with this family.

Other helpful information:

Nanny Work AGreement 10 Tips: Nanny Work Agreement PDF Version
Domestic Worker Nanny Workplace Rights 10 Tips: Nanny (Domestic Worker) Rights in the Workplace
How to Hire the Best Nanny 10 Tips to Hire the Best Nanny
Nanny Hiring Mistakes 10 Common Nanny Hiring Mistakes
What is a Nanny  Article: So What is a Nanny Anyway?
nanny work agreement Sample Live In Nanny Work Agreement live out nanny work agreement Sample Live Out Nanny Work Agreement