Each month we highlight one of our agency partners, and get to know a little more about them and their insights into the household employment industry. This month we spoke with Marsha Epstein, director of American Nanny Company, Inc.
Agency Vitals
- Founded in 1985
- Serves the greater Boston area, plus some of the surrounding New England areas
- Specializes in newborn care
How did you get started?
I was an “accidental entrepreneur” – I was a working mother and was looking for quality child care options. I found the child care landscape dim, so I started the agency out of a need to help myself and other families balance their career and home life. I recruited from all over the country, which was a tough challenge in the days before the internet. We became well-known in Boston for our boutique-style of service.
What is your biggest challenge?
One of our constant challenges is to be able to listen to each nanny and family without using our own filters; we don’t tell them what they should be looking for, we help them find their own voice as to what they want and need. They can tell us what qualifications are important to them, what competencies they are looking for. We try not to put ourselves into their situation – we want to hear who they are.
How do you show your value?
We show value by being there for our families every step of the way, quickly providing information and support on all aspects of the process. We are responsible; we know our nannies and our families well. We treat both parties with respect – we have a passion for this!
How do you help families understand paying their employee legally?
We use GTM’s materials and refer families to their website. We provide information on the Massachusetts Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, discuss what laws are relevant, and go over overtime obligations. Our nannies expect to be paid legally, which makes it easier to bring up with our families. We also discuss the importance of having workers’ comp insurance and using GTM’s tax calculator for salary negotiations.
What changes have you seen over the years in the household employment industry?
The biggest change we’ve seen in the Boston area has been the former trend of nearly 100% of nannies being live-in, to now seeing nearly 100% of nannies being live-out. Another great change has been that nannies are now seen as professionals; they used to be considered just babysitters, but over the years we and others have tried to build up the perception of being a nanny – it’s not a second job used to supplement income; it’s a career choice. The importance of being paid legally has also contributed to the better perception of nannies these days. Nannies can make really good money and more nannies are proud to tell people what they do for a living.
How has GTM helped your agency?
GTM’s staff talks our families through everything about paying their nanny legally. When I send a family over to GTM, I know they will get all the information they need. The feedback I get about GTM from my families is always positive – GTM is always very helpful and provides great resources for our families.
What are some fun facts about your agency?
My big moment came in 1993 when I was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show! I was on as an agency expert to discuss the positive aspects of being a nanny and how families can find a good one. Oprah even hugged me! I was also interviewed by Dan Rather about the nanny industry, and I was in a Wall Street Journal article about advice for parents on interviewing a nanny. Finally, we are proud to provide child care to the employees of Harvard University, helping them with their work-life balance.
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