employer – Nannyjob blog

Navigating Birthday Etiquette as a Nanny

Working as a nanny often blurs the lines between professional relationships and family bonds. Birthdays can particularly highlight this unique dynamic. Whether it’s for your current charges, their parents, or even past families you’ve worked for, deciding on the appropriate way to celebrate can sometimes feel like a minefield. Here are some thoughtful guidelines to help you navigate these decisions with grace.

Birthday Etiquette for Nannies: Who Gets What?

1. Your Current Charges

Celebrating your charges’ birthdays shows you care and helps strengthen your bond. A gift need not be extravagant; the gesture is what counts. Experiences like a trip to the cinema, ideally giving them some one-on-one time without siblings, can be incredibly meaningful. Alternatively, consider gifts that offer continued value such as books (with a personal message inscribed) or board games.

2. Your Ex-Charges

Maintaining a connection with children you once cared for is a beautiful gesture. A birthday card is always a lovely way to mark their special day from afar. If you happen to see them around their birthday, a small gift or outing might be appropriate, depending on your ongoing relationship.

3. Your Current Bosses

Navigating your current employer’s birthday can be tricky but doesn’t have to be stressful. Often, you might already be involved in preparing something with the children, like making a card or baking a cake. If you have a good rapport and know their tastes, a small, thoughtful gift could be appropriate. Otherwise, a heartfelt card or offering to babysit for free on a night out can be more than sufficient.

4. Your Ex-Bosses

If you remember your former employer’s birthday and you’re still in touch, it’s nice to acknowledge it, especially if you had a close relationship. A simple card can show you value the time you spent with their family. However, if you’re not in close contact, it’s perfectly acceptable to let the day pass unmarked.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the best approach to birthday etiquette in your role as a nanny is to do what feels right for you and the relationships you have with those involved. It’s about balancing professionalism with personal touch, showing appreciation and respect without overstepping boundaries.

Creating the Perfect Advertisement for a Nanny

Finding the right nanny for your family is an important decision, and creating an effective advertisement can significantly streamline the hiring process. Below are essential tips on how to craft the perfect ad to attract the ideal candidate.

1. Clear Job Title and Introduction

Start with a clear and straightforward job title that includes the term “nanny.” Your introduction should briefly outline what makes your family unique and what you are looking for in a nanny. This sets the tone and attracts the right applicants.

2. Detailed Job Description

Be specific about the duties and responsibilities you expect the nanny to handle, such as picking up children from school, preparing meals, helping with homework, or facilitating bedtime routines. Clarity prevents future misunderstandings.

3. Required Qualifications and Skills

List essential qualifications such as education level, years of experience, first aid training, or special certifications like early childhood education. Also, mention any specific skills that might be beneficial, such as fluency in a second language or experience with special needs children.

4. Personal Qualities

Describe the personal qualities that you value in a nanny, such as patience, creativity, reliability, and a love for children. This helps potential candidates self-assess their fit with your family’s needs.

5. Work Hours and Salary

Clearly state the working hours, expected start date, and any flexibility required. Be upfront about the salary range and any benefits, like paid vacation, which could make the position more attractive.

6. How to Apply

Provide a clear call to action. Tell candidates exactly how to apply, whether by sending a resume and a cover letter via email or filling out a form on a website. Mention any documents or information they should include, such as references or a background check.

7. Contact Information

Ensure that your contact information is correct and easy to find in the advertisement. This may include a phone number, email, or even a direct link to the application portal.

8. Engaging Conclusion

End your advertisement on a warm note, expressing your anticipation to find the right addition to your family. This personal touch can make your ad stand out.

Does my nanny need a pension?

The government’s pensions initiative, known as Auto Enrolment, requires all UK employers to automatically enrol any qualifying employees into a workplace pension scheme and make contributions towards that pension. As a UK nanny employer, you will need to enrol your nanny into a pension scheme if he or she qualifies.

Does my nanny qualify for a workplace pension?

If your nanny is aged between 22 years old and the State Pension Age and they earn £10,000 or above per year, then they do qualify for a workplace pension.

What will happen if I don’t offer my nanny a pension scheme?

If your nanny is eligible for a pension scheme and you fail to enrol them into one, or if you fail to pay pension contributions, you can be fined by The Pensions Regulator.

My nanny doesn’t qualify but still wants a pension, what should I do?

Your nanny still has the right to ‘opt in’ and join a pension scheme even if they do not qualify for a workplace pension. It is your responsibility to enrol them into a suitable scheme.

My nanny qualifies for a pension but doesn’t want one, what do I need to do?

It is a legal requirement for you to enrol your nanny into a pension scheme if they qualify for it, even if he or she doesn’t want one. Once your nanny is enrolled into a pension scheme, they can then choose to ‘opt out’ or ‘cease membership’ of the scheme.

If this is the first time you’ve heard about your Auto Enrolment and nanny employer pension duties, don’t worry! Nannytax provides a fully managed workplace pension service for their clients which means the Nannytax team of pension specialists can take this off your hands!

This blog was written by Nannytax, the award-winning and UK leading nanny payroll experts with 30 years experience.

Discover more about Nannytax here.

Statutory Rights

As a nanny employer, there will be a number of Statutory Payments you may need to pay your nanny over the course of their employment. It’s important that you familiarise yourself with each payment and it’s helpful to be aware of the terminology when employing a nanny!

What is Statutory Pay?

Statutory Sick pay (SSP)

As a nanny employer, if your nanny is absent from work due to ill health, you are responsible for administering Statutory Sick Pay. As of 2015 employers are no longer able to reclaim SSP from the government, so you will need to cover your nanny’s sick pay yourself (the 2023-2024 rate for SSP is £109.40).

Maternity pay

If your nanny becomes pregnant and goes on maternity leave, as her employer you will be responsible for her Statutory Maternity Pay. The pay rate for the first six weeks of maternity leave is 90% of your nanny’s average weekly earnings, the weekly rate for the following 33 weeks is £172.48 or 90% of your nanny’s average weekly earnings – whichever is lower. Statutory Maternity Pay is funded by the Government but you will need to and are responsible for submitting the maternity pay claim, find out more.

Holiday pay

Your nanny is entitled to a legal minimum holiday allowance and to holiday pay, which you are responsible for paying. A full-time employee is entitled to a minimum of 28 days of paid annual leave – this includes the 8 UK bank holidays. You can use the Nannytax holiday entitlement calculator to work out how many days or hours of paid holiday your nanny is entitled to: www.nannytax.co.uk/holiday-calculator

This blog was written by Nannytax, the award-winning and UK leading nanny payroll experts with over 25 years experience. Discover more about Nannytax here.

Respect

Ask most nannies what they want in a job and they’ll tell you that what really makes a difference is respect. But what is respecting your nanny when all is said and done? We’ve come up with R.E.S.P.E.C.T. to help you respect your nanny.

Rights
Nannies have the same employment rights as anyone else and they don’t appreciate employers trying to cut corners. They are entitled to National Minimum Wage if live out, 5.6 weeks paid holiday per year, statutory sick, maternity, paternity and adoption pay, time off for ante-natal appointments, a contract, redundancy pay, notice of the end of employment and a whole lot more.

Earnings
While nannies of course love looking after children it is their job, and they expect to be paid the correct amount, on time. If you’re not sure how much to pay your nanny and how much goes to the tax-man, think about engaging a professional payroll company to manage it for you. They’ll produce the payslips too, which help your nanny keep track of their earnings.

Space
Live in nannies especially need their space respected. Their room should be for their use only, not extra storage for you or an additional guest room when they’re away. But respecting space isn’t just about physical space – it’s also about not contacting your nanny outside work hours unless it’s an emergency and allowing them to have a personal life that you don’t know about.

Professionalism
Nannies rarely give advice unless its asked for but they may make suggestions on ways to manage behaviour or translations. Respecting your nanny’s professional knowledge and experience makes for a happy relationship. Professional nannies are also capable of getting on with the job and don’t need micro-managing. Respect your nanny’s daily routines and timescales as long as everything is accomplished.

Expenses
No-one likes being out of pocket for work and nannies are no exception. If a nanny has paid for something out of their own pocket then the respectful thing to do is pay them back promptly.

Choices (decisions)
When parents don’t respect and back-up the choices a nanny makes, children learn they don’t have to respect the nanny either. If nanny said no biscuit then respect the choice they made, even if it’s not what you would have said. If you do disagree with a choice your nanny has made, be respectful and approach them about it in private.

Time
Respecting your nanny’s hours is one of the simplest things you can do to show respect. Allow them to start work on time a be home for them to finish on time. Their finish time is the time they should be able to walk out the door, not the time you get home and start a run-down of the day.

Image © Photographer: Freds | Agency: Dreamstime.com

The Ultimate Responsibility: Checking Your Nanny’s Identity, References, and Right to Work

When hiring a nanny, it’s essential to verify their identity, qualifications, and references thoroughly. As an employer, you have the responsibility to ensure they have the right to work in the UK and are suitable for taking care of your children and home. This article provides an up-to-date guide on the necessary checks you should conduct before hiring a nanny.

The Right to Work Check your prospective nanny’s passport, national identity card, or other proof of nationality to ensure their right to work in the UK. Be aware that some foreign nationals may have limitations on their work permits or visas, so seek specialist advice if needed.
Qualifications and Certificates Ask to see original certificates for any qualifications your nanny has obtained. Verify the authenticity of these documents by contacting the awarding body. If your nanny is OFSTED registered, ask to see their registration certificate, proof of common core skills, First Aid certificate, and public liability insurance.
References Request both written references and contact information from your nanny’s previous employers. Be prepared to ask specific questions related to their past performance and how they interacted with the children they cared for.

By diligently checking your nanny’s identity, references, and right to work, you can be confident that they are a suitable and trustworthy individual to care for your children. Remember, as an employer, it’s your ultimate responsibility to ensure your nanny is the right fit for your family.

Creating the perfect nanny job ad

Writing an advertisement to recruit a nanny can be a daunting task but we’ve broken it down into 3 easy steps.

Be honest

The first thing to do is to be honest with yourself about what you really need your nanny to do and how much you can afford. You should think about what you as a person are like to work for and what expectations you have of your children and their behaviour. Your nanny needs to be on the same wavelength as you so don’t advertise for someone open, chatty and relaxed if you’d rather have someone who keeps the relationship entirely professional and follows any routine to the letter. Are you happy for a nanny to bring their own child with them? Don’ t wait until the question is asked before thinking through scenarios as you’re more likely to feel pressured into saying yes to something you aren’t comfortable with.

Be realistic

Do you really need someone with a PhD and 30 years experience? Can you pay what they will ask? Can your nanny do everything in your job description within the time available? We hate to say it but nannies are superhuman so if you can’t achieve what you’re asking in a day then don’t expect your nanny to. You will probably need to make some concessions so be clear from the start what your ‘essential’ and ‘desireable’ criteria are.

Be specific

Give plenty of detail in your job ad. Nannies will rarely apply to a job with an unspecified salary, but if you don’t want to commit to a figure then give a range rather than just putting ‘negotiable’. If you know that as a teacher you will be at work late at least 3 times a term and need your nanny to babysit then state that upfront. When driving is an essential part of the job be clear that you need a driver and whether you will provide a car or expect the nanny to use your own. Sharing the rough daily routine will help candidates get a feel for the pace of life in your family and stating an expected job duration will help nannies make up their mind about whether your needs fit with theirs.

Tips and Advice for First Time Live-In Nannies

The prospect of starting a new job is sometimes nerve-wracking. For those of you about to start your first job as a live-in nanny, it can be downright terrifying, as you must learn to work and live with the family hiring you.

That’s why we’ve put together our top tips to help you feel more comfortable and at ease when moving in with a new family:

Continue reading “Tips and Advice for First Time Live-In Nannies”

Travelling Tips for Nannies

With holidays soon to be allowed and the summer, not far behind, many nannies might be preparing for a trip with their nanny family.

Whilst a sunny break away from everyday life might sound like a fantastic escape, it’s important to remember that you’ll still be working and that your job might become a bit more difficult when faced with new challenges and unfamiliar surroundings.

We’ve put together our top tips to help you make a success of any trip with your nanny family:

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Flexibility: the F word

Flexibility is a buzzword when it comes to childcare. Many parents need someone willing to be a bit flexible with hours to cover unexpected delays and duties to pick up the slack when needed. Most child carers are keen to emphasise their flexibility to maximise their chances of getting a job. But are you using the F-word too much?

Just as our ideas of physical flexibility differ, the types of flexibility different types of childcares often do too. A flexible nursery is a bit like being able to touch your toes with your hands, which is better than only reaching your knees if that’s all another nursery can do for you, but a flexible nanny is more like being able to touch your toes to the back of your head. Even if you don’t touch your toes on a regular basis, it can be reassuring to know that flexibility is there if you need it, just like it can be reassuring to know you have a bit of leeway to cover those unexpected delays.

When choosing childcare options parents should assess how much flexibility they really need – remember needing unusual hours isn’t the same as needing flexible childcare, although you might need someone who is flexible with the hours they’ll agree to work. Different types of childcare are by nature more flexible than others – a nursery has fixed opening and closing times for good reasons, but a childminder has a little more leeway to decide what those are and whether they are willing to make exceptions on an occasional or more regular basis. One flexible childminder might not mind early drop offs or late pickups for core contracted hours, another may mean they will offer an extended hours service but expect this to be agreed in advance. A nanny, especially a live-in nanny, can give even more flexibility, including late notice and overnight care, but this shouldn’t be taken for granted and should always be compensated accordingly.

Child carers promising flexibility in hours provided therefore need to be careful about what they mean. You might be happy to work up to 10 hours a day and although you don’t mind whether those 10 hours are 5am to 3pm or 11am to 9pm you still expect to clock off when those 10 hours are done. Or maybe you’re happy to occasionally start an hour earlier or finish an hour later but are generally available between 8am and 6pm. Perhaps you’re one of the few happy to commit to a set number of hours over the month whenever the parents need you. All of those are being flexible but option 1 is what a shift worker might mean by flexible childcare, option 2 is what someone with a complicated commute prone to delays might mean.

Flexible working is also a two-way street. The quickest way to turn a relationship sour is to demand full flexibility from a childcare provider and never give any back. Giving a little can build up a store of goodwill for the times you need extra help. As one nanny said ‘I absolutely don’t mind doing later days when I am let off early sometimes.

It’s not just working hours that require flexibility – nannies are often asked to be flexible when it comes to jobs around the home. Most nannies will empty a full kitchen bin or put a coffee cup in the dishwasher, and if it’s been a nightmare morning and the breakfast things are left on the side occasionally then that’s okay too. In general, though, nannies don’t expect to act as housekeepers unless it’s part of the job description, so if a nanny says at interview, they’re flexible on duties it’s well worth finding out what that really means.

Just a little flexibility in return goes a long way, allowing a nanny to run some personal errands during the working day occasionally or accepting that a childminder might need to close earlier on occasion can make a relationship a whole lot smoother.

At the end of the day being truly flexible means accepting that sometimes things are going to be a little different.