New here, questions about going on the books

[Anonymous]

Ok, so I started out 7 years ago at a home that didn't pay well but gave me tons of experience, raises up to 12 an hour, and the family is wonderful and has become like family to me and my DH and kids. When I had my kids, one in 2009 and one last year, they let me bring them to work. They never paid on the books and I had no idea it was a big deal until I came to this board. They are a medically fragile foster home, I helped them raise three sets of kids from birth until adoption at age 2-3, with maybe 30-40 newborns in addition. I really value the experience I gained but I had no idea it was unusual, or an asset, to have so much infant experience.

FF to now, I decided to put an ad on care.com due to finances with DH, and my baby being almost a year now. i interviewed with a family in an affluent neighborhood/home this past week, newborn twins. I told them 12-13 to start, and that I had an interview the next day and was offering the same rates to them. They called me back twenty mins later after calling references to offer me at 13 an hour.

I start next week and I did call after reading this board and ask if it was on the books. MB said yes, of course, she is using her FSA...? I am new to all of this and don't want to appear inexperienced to them, in case they take advantage of my lack of knowledge. Do I go in with a contract? I am training next week and MB has to go OOT for work, so she said we'd deal with all of the pay stuff when she gets back from her business trip. They also have at least one other person coming in for night shifts, which I declined (I have a 10 mth old that nurses 1-2 times a night). She contacted me on care.com, and said they need PT work. So does that mean I shouldn't ask for PTO, since its part time? These are new parents and I don't know what all they know about nannies, etc.

Thanks for letting me pick your brains about this.

[Anonymous]

Realized I forgot to add a few thins:
I went very PT after kids, 1-2 days a week. And then after my 2012 baby, just evenings/weekends and days when their reg nanny was out sick, with the understanding that I might have to bring the kids with me depending on my husbands work schedule and how short the notice was. Their day nanny that they hired when I left, just stopped working for them (health problems, still on good terms with her), and they put out an ad for day hours but also offered it to me. I said no as DH just got a great job, then two weeks later DH got laid off and we are back to needing money, but by then they had hired a new day nanny and she was working out well for them. They don't have a lot of hours to offer me currently, so I put the ad on care.com. I told MB and she has given me glowing reviews to those who have called.

[Anonymous]

Where are you located? 12-13 for infant twins with your experience is extremely low in this area. Does your baby go to work with you? You should have a contract ready at all times in case they don't hae one already. Look up domestic household employer at the IRS website and learn about your rights. Your employer should give you a w2form to fill out and I would ask them to use a payroll company as a mantory term of your hire because you have never had to withhold your own taxes. It can be complicated.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for your advice. I am located in the Pacific NW.

[Anonymous]

Forgot to add, no babies of my own will be going to work with me. Outside of the previous family, everybody seemed surprised by this idea so I decided to not even consider it.

[Anonymous]

Didn't even bring it up to current family as an option.

[Anonymous]

Since I'm only part time, should I be asking for:
PTO Holidays
PTO Vacation
Sick pay
Inclement weather (they live on a very steep hill, gated home, it looks like it could get bad in ice and snow).

[Anonymous]

What is your schedule? PT can be anything from 1-5 days a week, 1-10 hours per day (totaling 1-30/35 hours per week). That obviously doesn't give much info on how much you really do work for them, which can affect what you might want to ask for and how much of each.

[Anonymous]

MB has a business trip early next week and rushing to get me started, she said we could go over all that when she comes back. I asked at the interview and it was a bit vague, then I shared my old schedule M-F 9-3 and she said they could do something similar. Right now she is leaving the babies with me, DB, and her mom, and another night nurse I think (I said no to evenings and overnights). When she contacted me on care.com she said the schedule would be part time, varied at first, but she's going back to work next mth and will have a set schedule by then. She has me booked for 16 hours so far for 4 days starting Mon.

[Anonymous]

I hope to arrive on Monday ready with a contract to discuss and knowledgeable about how to be paid on the books. Thanks for all your help.

[Anonymous]

NP.

You should definitely have a contract, and negotiate PTO and guaranteed hours. Insist on being paid on the books. That's the law and it's in your best interest.

Also, consider a contract that includes specific benchmarks that would earn you raises and bonuses. Your rate is low, for DC, although it may be the norm in PW. If you can contract bonus opportunities, you may have a more stable income.

Best of luck.