Care.com 2011 | Proprietary & Confidential 1July 2011

Do You Need a Nanny Contract?The Benefits of Having An Official Employment Agreement for Your Nanny

Care.com 2011 | Proprietary & Confidential 2July 2011

Why have a nanny contract?

• "The contract is essential for clarifying [salary] matters and detailing all the conditions necessary to ensure a healthy and productive work relationship,” – Priscilla Gonzalez, director of

Domestic Workers United (DWU), an organization of Caribbean, Latina and African nannies, housekeepers, and elderly caregivers in New York.

• When everyone is clear on a nanny's responsibilities and privileges, it reduces confusion and makes disputes easier to solve amicably when they do crop up.

Care.com 2011 | Proprietary & Confidential 3July 2011

What Should My Nanny Contract Cover?

Duties and responsibilities • Work hours and schedule:

– Will she work full or part time hours? – When can she take breaks during the workday?

• Responsibilities: – What is the scope of your nanny's childcare responsibilities? – Will your nanny handle any cooking, cleaning, laundry or

transportation? • Nanny Privileges:

– When can she use her cell phone? Are guests allowed? • Meals:

– Should your nanny bring her lunch from home or will you provide her meals?

Care.com 2011 | Proprietary & Confidential 4July 2011

What Should My Nanny Contract Cover?

• Compensation and benefits • o      Hourly rate of pay (and overtime pay for full-time

nannies) • o      Frequency of pay (weekly, bi-weekly) • o      Benefits (vacation, sick days, personal days, paid

holidays, plus any restrictions on when your nanny can take her time off.)

• o      Family vacation requirements (Must your nanny travel with you?)

• o      Health benefits • o      Arrangement for taxes • o      Schedule for annual employment review and

reassessment of compensation

Care.com 2011 | Proprietary & Confidential 5July 2011

What Should My Nanny Contract Cover?

Transportation • No cell phone use while driving a car with kids in tow • Seatbelt/ child car seat requirements • Nanny's car

– Must have valid driver's license– Require regular maintenance of reliable car and insurance– Plans for employer reimbursement for gas mileage and wear and tear on

the car when it's used for work-related purposes.• Family's car

– Must have valid driver's license– Add nanny to household insurance policy– Outline acceptable use of family car for work and personal use– Agree to regular maintenance of car– Employer will pay all car-related expenses or for one tank of gas per

week. Anything additional covered by nanny• Rules for the use of public transportation, if relevant in your area.

Care.com 2011 | Proprietary & Confidential 6July 2011

What Should My Nanny Contract Cover?

Discretion and confidentiality • Personal, medical, career, and financial information of

family will not be discussed outside of the family • Nanny will not disparage family in any media

Care.com 2011 | Proprietary & Confidential 7July 2011

Sample Nanny Contracts

• Your best bet is to hire a lawyer specializing in such matters to write your contract for you (fees will vary).

• You can also download the DWU's– sample contract for full-time nannies or – sample contract for part-time nannies as a starting

point.

Just be sure to consider the following:

Care.com 2011 | Proprietary & Confidential 8July 2011April 11, 2023

Learn More

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• To learn more about a nanny contract, read Do You Need a Nanny Contract? here:

• http://www.care.com/child-care-do-you-need-a-nanny-contract-p1017-q14699.html

• Want to learn more about child care and families? Go here:

• http://www.care.com/child-care-articles-resources-p1019.html