Live in Nanny
![[Post New]](/nanny-forum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
We have had a full time nanny since our kids were born but are thinking about moving to Montgomery County and would like to consider a live in nanny. Currently not interested in Au Pair. Is there a standard way live in nannies are paid. Our current nanny is paid hourly and receives overtime. I assume there is some "board" cost that reduces the hourly rate? Or do live in nannies receive an annual salary as opposed to hourly? I am just trying to figure out how it all works. Any help or advice would be great.
thanks. |
Anonymous
| All nannies, live in or live out, receive an hourly salary by law. Your living arrangement (own apartment or a bedroom in the family home) sets the compensation. |
Anonymous
We pay our nanny a salary. It's basically her hourly rate at the highest number of hours she's expected to work in a pay period. She routinely works less than that because our kids are in school, and we would compensate her for any additional time (i.e. overnights or weekends), but there's no reason you can't have a salaried nanny. |
Anonymous
No reason except that it is illegal. |
Anonymous
I’ve been salaried several times. In those instances, either I was working 24/7 (therefore no possible extra hours/extra pay) or I was guaranteed to NEVER have extra hours requiring extra pay, but they paid the guaranteed hours as salary every week. Since I hate tracking hours, that my preference. My current position is also salary, with the stipulation that all hours during a certain time frame are on call and paid whether I work or not. It works for me. Maryland is one of the few states that requires overtime for live-in nannies, although I think it starts at 44 instead of 40 hours. Most live-in nannies have power rates when starting, but once they’ve got experience as a live-in, pay can be quite close if the nanny’s responsibilities are more than a live-out nanny’s. There are three reasons people usually go the live-in route: 1. Cheaper: you get what you get, especially when all you want to pay is minimum wage. 2. On call/wonky hours: the crazier your schedule, the higher the rate. 3. Travel: the more you travel, the more a consistent adult in the house matters, and it’s reflected in pay. So, up to you. I won’t compromise on certain things and docking my pay just because I live in is high on the list. Other nannies, especially those without live in experience, may be willing to accept very cheap rates. I don’t know anyone in this area accepting less than $14/hour currently, and that nanny didn’t have any experience when she started. |
Anonymous
| I was a live in Nanny for 2 years and was salaried. Its not a case of only wanting to pay minimum wage. I was only in the DC area temporarily so it didn't make sense for me to rent an apt by myself or live with unknown roommates and have to pay rent, utilities etc in Nanny income. And if a family has a spare room/bathroom in their house then it makes sense for both parties. My family also provided a car for me to use. If youre young and like kids and want to experience different parts of the country its great that some people choose this as an option. |
Anonymous
You pay extra for OT.... she not paid salary, she is paid hourly with guaranteed hours. That’s how most of us are paid. |
Anonymous
| In the DMV what's standard for a new live in nanny is experienced live in nanny? I have a client ( I'm an NCS) who is considering going that route. They have the space and are open to adding a kitchen. They have one baby don't need any cleaning. |
Anonymous
Many nannies consider Live-in to be a perk for you not the nanny. Also, live-in or live-out, nannies are HOURLY employees and must be paid for every hour worked. In Maryland OT after 40 hours is paid to live-in nannies. |
Anonymous
Send them to an agency. The only norms are a private bedroom with lock and bathroom access (frequently their own, but sometimes shared), with no charge for room and board. Each family’s house, position and benefit package is different, and the lower number of live-ins makes it hard to compare packages. |
Anonymous
|
I would not fret over tracking hours if it is not your thing, it is perfectly acceptable and legal to set a base weekly pay for X number of hours a week. You can call it a salary or you can call it a weekly minimum, the terminology is not as important as the understanding that you will be working x hours a week minimum and receive a minimum paycheck at the end of each pay period. For hours above the base weekly hours, you then pay an agreed upon hourly rate for extra hours worked.
When factoring in the live-in perk, you need to look at what you are offering and what market rate for the space would be. Are you offering a full apartment/nanny suite with its own entrance? Or is it a private bedroom with private bath in a different part of the house? (again, think privacy) Or is it the bedroom next to the child's connected by a shared bathroom? In the case of the latter option, I would suggest looking at share rental rates around you and significatly discounting that rate. Why? Well, one could easily argue that the shared bathroom with the child is not much of a perk for the nanny because the nanny would never really have time off. A few other things to think about when going in the live-in nanny route: - if the children are older, they need to understand that while nanny loves them and adores them, this is nanny's job and s/he needs private time. - off hours are just that, off hours. The nanny should not be disturbed during off hours (see point above) - be respectful of one another. The nanny should be respectful of your home and the space that is included in the compensation package. You should be respectful of the nanny's private space that you are offering as part of the compensation package. - is food included or is nanny expected to purchase groceries for personal consumption? - Does nanny have access to the entire house during non-working hours? - will you provide a vehicle or will nanny be required to provide car for basic job functions? If nanny provides vehicle, you will need to provide a mileage allowance. In the end, what is most important is that every nanny and family have a mutual understanding and agreement on what is expected and that boundaries are established and respected from the outset. I have seen nanny's who were horrible and treated the space they were provided as worse that a boy's locker room. I have seen families have no respect for the nanny's private space and enter the nanny space without so much as a knock. I have also seen terrific, long-term nanny relationships that have last 5-10 years. The key always seems to be respect and operating with the best of intentions. I hope this helps! |
Anonymous
|
PP gave a lot of good advice - I'd write out your expectations too---
space, phone use, food, overnight or day time guests, working hours, job responsibilities. We have a live in that has lived with us 10 years so I know it's important to lay these things out in advance. |
Anonymous
Which of her expections do you honor? |
Anonymous
The idea is that you talk about expectations are up front, come up with an agreement on what is to be expected in each area, and then you both honor them. |
Anonymous
| One of the things I never anticipated was all the noise from the kids every in the mornings. |