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 Debbie Hipp, Placement Coordinator for TLC for Kids.
Agency Vitals
- Started in 1985
- Serves the cities of St. Louis, MO and Miami, FL, along with corporate care services in additional cities in Florida and in Massachusetts
- Specializes in sleep training and newborn care, along with caregivers for those with special needs, and household managers
How did you get started?
As a student, owner Sharon Graff-Radell wrote her thesis on women in the workforce, specifically how they handled child care. She found they all lacked the resources they needed for back-up and sick child care. She decided to open a nanny agency to help working women with all of their child care needs, starting with nannies and temporary babysitters. The St. Louis office opened in 1985, and a second office opened in Miami in 2012.
What is your biggest challenge?
On the temporary side of the business, finding and recruiting caregivers to follow a temporary schedule is a challenge. Many caregivers want full-time positions, so keeping that pool of candidates that will work on a fluctuating schedule is key. We need to ensure those caregivers stay busy and find successful positions.
What do you look for to make successful placements?
We’re looking for the “X factor” – that chemistry between the nanny and a family that shows excitement and enthusiasm from both parties. Our decision to make a placement hinges on that relationship. We guide our families throughout this process, advising them to pay attention to their instincts. We don’t push too hard; we believe the family and nanny choose each other. This creates less complications down the road.
What strategies do you use for recruiting candidates?
We rely heavily on social media – we use many sites including Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. We run ads and contests on those sites, along with available job descriptions. We also receive referrals from families and other caregivers.
How do you show your value?
We explain our value by demonstrating the importance of having a personal relationship. We get to know our families well so we can find the best candidate for them. We are the family’s assistant, their personal placement director. One-on-one discussions are crucial in the hiring process; we assist with the contracts, background checks, interview questions, and more. Plus we provide support and resources once a placement has been made, and that’s something families can’t get when they use online sites to hire.
How do you help families understand paying their employee legally?
We put the word out on our website with articles on paying employees legally. We also provide a parent handbook to our families that includes information on overtime laws, calculating salaries, a link to the GTM tax calculator, and more. The salary section of our contracts is written in terms of gross and net pay, illustrating to our families that taxes need to be taken out.
What changes have you seen over the years in the household employment industry?
We have seen parents becoming much more educated about paying their employee legally. Years ago, families were more hesitant to pay on the books, but now it’s becoming more of the norm. We’ve also noticed a greater need for part-time nannies, whether it’s for child care after school, or for help organizing the house and preparing meals before the kids come home from school. It seems there are less stay-at-home parents these days or some that work at least part-time, so they need the extra part-time help.
How has GTM helped your families?
GTM has been a valuable resource for our families. They provide all the necessary payroll and tax information and make the setup process very smooth. Our families really appreciate the direct deposit service as well.
How has GTM helped your agency?
TLC relies on GTM to be the expert when it comes to the payroll side of the industry. We can answer some very basic questions, but most of the time we tell our families to contact GTM’s experts, visit their website, and use their tax calculator.
What are some fun facts about your agency?
I’ve been recruiting and placing nannies and babysitters for TLC for 16 years; prior to that I was a temporary babysitter, and I am a mother of three children. Both of those have helped me understand families’ needs when it comes to hiring a caregiver. TLC is a family owned business. Owners Sharon Graff-Radell and Stephanie Graff are both actively involved with APNA and INA in order to stay current with all topics involving nannies and household employment. Sharon served on the Board of Directors for the International Nanny Association (INA) for many years. Our St. Louis office provides child care for the St. Louis Blues hockey team during the playoffs so the players’ families can watch the games instead of staying home with the kids.
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