Anonymous wrote:We’re hoping to use outsourcing to improve our family lives when both kids are in elementary this fall. We’re a bit flexible (or maybe just undecided) about what kind of help is best (house manager type vs strictly an after school sitter vs someone who specializes in cooking or cleaning). After reading a lot of other people’s experiences it seems like finding a good, reliable employee can be challenging. I’d almost like to stay flexible on our needs in order to get the most helpful person.
Any advice on how to accomplish this is welcome. Obviously pay competitively for our area. Any recommendations in terms of screening for particular experience or background or what to look for in interview/trial days?
Anonymous wrote:Think about it from the other person's perspective. Could you support yourself working 3pm-7pm 5 days/week at the wage you're going to pay? If not, how will that person?
It is easier to hire someone for several full days/week than for part of each day. It is easier to find someone for Mon/Wed afterschool care (a student, say) than for 5 days/week.
Anonymous wrote:Think about it from the other person's perspective. Could you support yourself working 3pm-7pm 5 days/week at the wage you're going to pay? If not, how will that person?
It is easier to hire someone for several full days/week than for part of each day. It is easier to find someone for Mon/Wed afterschool care (a student, say) than for 5 days/week.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Are you planning on paying someone full time? What is the max you can spend? The things you list are wildly different, so the answer is obviously, it depends on what you’re looking for.
We are hoping to find someone part time. I know the nanny model exists of paying a full time salary for part time hours and trying to fill their time with other tasks but I think you run into issues with that model.
Something around 20ish hours a week, hoping to pay $30-40/hour. A college student doing strictly childcare I would expect to be at the lower end of that range. Would scale up based on experience or ability to handle multiple roles.
Anonymous wrote:Are you planning on paying someone full time? What is the max you can spend? The things you list are wildly different, so the answer is obviously, it depends on what you’re looking for.
Anonymous wrote:Someone good at childcare might not be good at cleaning and cooking, and if you need a driver who can manage paying bills or even having your credit card, that will be an added challenge.
Anonymous wrote:Don’t combine cleaning with driving/childcare.
Get a cleaning person once a week for regular cleaning or whatever works for your budget.
Then hire an after school sitter for the childcare.
If you have the room and funds an au pair might work for you. They work flexible hours although don’t keep changing them
Week to week. You would still need a house cleaner as well though.