Exploring Nanny Share Options

[Anonymous]

I’m interested in hearing others feedback, advice, and best practices on nanny shares. We are considering this option for next year. During the school year, we would only need 15-20 hours of help (2-3 days per week). In the summer, we would need full time help. We’re hoping to find a family with a similar schedule/needs, who would be open to splitting the week, and sharing care over the summer. My questions are: contracts between families and nanny pay. I assume the families enter into an agreement with one another, and separately enter into a joint agreement with the nanny? How do you calculate the nanny’s pay in an arrangement like this? I understand the nanny’s pay is higher during a share arrangement. Is it easiest to calculate an annual salary rather than hourly?

[Anonymous]

Hi OP,

Typically there would just be one contract between both families and the nanny. Nannies are hourly employees so there should be distinct rates outlined in the contract for one-family and two-family rates.

[Anonymous]

How old are your children, OP?

[Anonymous]

You might have a hard time finding a Nanny who wants to get paid less on school days than on non school days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are your children, OP?

Children are between 3-10 years old.

[Anonymous]

OP here - would it be a cleaner situation if we just kept the schedule the same all year? (Each family commit to 20 hours or 15/25?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - would it be a cleaner situation if we just kept the schedule the same all year? (Each family commit to 20 hours or 15/25?)

I think one of the unclear pieces is if you are looking for an actual nanny share (where a nanny simultaneously cares for two families' children at the same time) or for a nanny to work with your family half the time and another family half the time?

[Anonymous]

I think you're going to struggle to find a family to share a nanny with you when you don't have a fairly traditional need of 40-50 hrs. There are already a lot of moving pieces - you need to find a family with a kid of a similar age, nearby (no one wants a long drive for a nanny share), willing to pay similar amounts, looking for a similar type of nanny, on vs. off the books... and then who also wants part time with the same hours as you do? That's a real unicorn. You may need to accept that you're paying for half a full time nanny even if your kid is only with her 20 hrs a week.

Assuming you find someone - there is traditionally just one contract that all three parties sign. It's an hourly wage, and you do need to pay overtime if it's over 40 hrs. The way we did ours was that we had set hours in the contract (9-5 M-F), the agreed upon wage ($24) and the fact that each family would pay half ($12). We also noted that additional time over and above the 40 hours was optional, but would cost $36 per hour, with either the family who needed it paying full freight, or if they both needed additional care, both family's splitting it at $18 each.

[Anonymous]

Very hard to find a nanny for a share for part time. Best to get your own nanny.

[Anonymous]

Your situation and your needs aren't set like a nanny share arrangement. As you are looking only for 15 or 20 a week. That's almost nothing. No one would be interested in that kind of arrangement setting it like a nanny share. If you really are open to a nanny share arrangement be open to pay at least set 40 H, same than the the the other family and be willing for pay all those 40 H guaranteed; even though you only 20 Hrs a week. Or just hire your own nanny. Just he aware that nannies who would be interested in a P-T are looking at least 25 H at week. In the morning or only in the afternoons. Don't try to steal the nanny whole day splitting those little hours in the morning or afternoon; bcs nanny will need to find a another P-T job elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - would it be a cleaner situation if we just kept the schedule the same all year? (Each family commit to 20 hours or 15/25?)

I think one of the unclear pieces is if you are looking for an actual nanny share (where a nanny simultaneously cares for two families' children at the same time) or for a nanny to work with your family half the time and another family half the time?

I was suggesting a nanny that works for our family half the time, and another family half the time. I think what I’m reading is that I should just consider posting an ad for a part time nanny 15-20 hours per week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - would it be a cleaner situation if we just kept the schedule the same all year? (Each family commit to 20 hours or 15/25?)

I think one of the unclear pieces is if you are looking for an actual nanny share (where a nanny simultaneously cares for two families' children at the same time) or for a nanny to work with your family half the time and another family half the time?

I was suggesting a nanny that works for our family half the time, and another family half the time. I think what I’m reading is that I should just consider posting an ad for a part time nanny 15-20 hours per week.

This won't be a nanny share either. This is called: 2 Part Time Jobs. The nanny would be working with you for a some hours and she would be working another hours with another Family. 2 Jobs in different locations each one.

[Anonymous]

Nannies are hourly employees regardless of share situation. Usually shares share time together to reduce costs (two families pay a reduced rate like $12-$15 per hour—nanny then makes $24-$30/hour). As another PP mentioned, you are looking for a nanny hoping to do a part time gig and full time on the summer. Unfortunately, it is really hard to find a part time nanny who can do full time in the summer. Put an add up and see what happens but most of the time people have to boost their hourly rate quite high to get a good part time nanny to make it worth their while.

Another option, particularly if you have one child, is to see if you can form a share with someone who has an existing full time nanny who is okay with a partner who is half time during the school year and full time in the summer.

Whether you hire a nanny on your own or participate in a share, the nanny (and family if in a share) will usually want consistent schedule so keeping the same hours and days per week.

Good luck op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - would it be a cleaner situation if we just kept the schedule the same all year? (Each family commit to 20 hours or 15/25?)

I think one of the unclear pieces is if you are looking for an actual nanny share (where a nanny simultaneously cares for two families' children at the same time) or for a nanny to work with your family half the time and another family half the time?

I was suggesting a nanny that works for our family half the time, and another family half the time. I think what I’m reading is that I should just consider posting an ad for a part time nanny 15-20 hours per week.

Yes, what you're describing is not a nanny share. You just need a part time nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m interested in hearing others feedback, advice, and best practices on nanny shares. We are considering this option for next year. During the school year, we would only need 15-20 hours of help (2-3 days per week). In the summer, we would need full time help. We’re hoping to find a family with a similar schedule/needs, who would be open to splitting the week, and sharing care over the summer. My questions are: contracts between families and nanny pay. I assume the families enter into an agreement with one another, and separately enter into a joint agreement with the nanny? How do you calculate the nanny’s pay in an arrangement like this? I understand the nanny’s pay is higher during a share arrangement. Is it easiest to calculate an annual salary rather than hourly?

What you're describing is more of a nanny split, and very few nannies would be interested unless the rates were higher than usual.

You mentioned children, but I don't see where you said how many you have. Logistically, it would be difficult to find someone with their own full time nanny open to watching your (2? 3?) children part time in addition to their full time family. Switching things up in the summer isn't ideal for anyone, however.

Your best bet by far would be:
-Focus on before and aftercare, and fill summers with camp
-Hire your own nanny. Increase hours so the nanny always receives 40 hours per week. If you don't need the full 40 for childcare, negotiate other tasks. Errands, grocery shopping, meal prep, kids laundry. Expect these tasks to change during the summer when the nanny won't have as much down time.