As someone who pays my nanny on the books via a payroll service, it’s not hard at all to set up. Took me all in an hour. Red flag.

Lots of people are still paying illegally off the books. That's why they can't show you pay stubs when they claim their cheap wages.

OP here. Thanks for the advice. I will request to be paid on the books from the start. The family is the one who wants to pay on the books, as they have always done so in the past.

Oh, and third of all, I have seen families want to do this, then never get around to setting up the nanny to be paid on the books. Four months turns into 6, then a year, etc. Then your taxes are a mess.

Anonymous wrote:Interviewed with a nice family who wants to pay on the books (yay!) but not until after 4 months or so. Is this the norm? In my other jobs paying on the books started immediately. I understand they want to make sure it's the right fit and that neither of us will change our minds about working together - but I really want to be paid legally from the start - or at least after 1 month. Is this unreasonable? I mean what happens if I get let go through no fault of my own before the 4 months, then I can't file for unemployment? WWYD?

I would insist on being paid on the books from the start. First of all, it's the law. Second of all, if you are not paying on the books you are leaving yourself very vulnerable to things like the bolded.

Why?

Run.

Interviewed with a nice family who wants to pay on the books (yay!) but not until after 4 months or so. Is this the norm? In my other jobs paying on the books started immediately. I understand they want to make sure it's the right fit and that neither of us will change our minds about working together - but I really want to be paid legally from the start - or at least after 1 month. Is this unreasonable? I mean what happens if I get let go through no fault of my own before the 4 months, then I can't file for unemployment? WWYD?