What's considered "full-time"?

[Anonymous]

I'm a little ways off from starting a nanny search (still pregnant), but I'm trying to understand the terminology. We'll need someone 4 days/week, 8.5 hours per day, which is 34 hours/week. Do nannies consider this full- or part-time for advertising purposes? I checked both DC and federal employment law, and both fail to define full-time, instead leaving it up to the employer to decide (except, of course, that hours over 40 must be paid overtime).

Thanks in advance for any insights.

[Anonymous]

Nannies tend to work 40+ hours a week, 45-50 being average so I personally would consider your position part time.

[Anonymous]

Its really very borderline. I would consider it full time in that it is a significant time commitment, so I would expect the typical benefits and guaranteed hours. I would expect the weekly pay to be similar to that of a full time job, however, so on the higher end rate wise (its really hard to find hours for one specific day, especially Friday, but you could spin having Friday off as a "perk" if the pay was worth it). I would advertise for full time, but list the schedule in the ad.

[Anonymous]

I would say anything over 40 is full time.

[Anonymous]

I would say 40 hours is full-time, but think about whether there is a chance you will even occasionally be rounding up to 9 hours--i.e. you run late, need nanny to come a bit earlier, etc.

For advertising purposes, also keep in mind that most nannies count on making OT as a decent chunk of their income. Having a position that is not really part-time (meaning it would be tough for your nanny to work a second job, attend school, etc as many PT nannies do) but does not provide OT money may be a tough position to fill. I'd plan to pay at the higher end of the scale, offer some attractive benefits, or both in order to find a good pool of candidates.

[Anonymous]

I consider 35-ish hours per week to be full-time and expect the commensurate benefits. This means that although I do have a second position for 1 day/week, I get my holidays, bonuses, sick leave, etc. from my FT family and they, in turn, get first dibs on schedule changes/my flexibility.

The problem with calling a 34hr/week job PT, particularly the schedule you're outlining, is that it doesn't give your nanny the opportunity to have another position that would offer benefits (or the opportunity to be enrolled in school, etc.) because it is so close to a FT position.

When you begin your search you are likely to find that the FT candidates are a significant step up from the PT candidates and will probably prefer to hire one of them. My advice would be to call this a FT position and give FT benefits for it to get the best candidate (and keep her committed to the position).

[Anonymous]

In your add I would specify 34 hours a week/4 days a week. Nannies are generally looking to get more hours to make more per week. However, a 34 hour 4 day a week job is far more attractive than a 2 day or 34 hours spread across 5 days. With a 4 day a week job, the nanny can pick up a different job on the 5th day.