800-929-9213GTM’s Household Employment Blog
Massachusetts Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights
The Massachusetts Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights was signed into law in July, making Massachusetts the fourth state in the country to provide protections for nannies, housekeepers, and other domestic employees. While most provisions of the new law do not take effect...
Minnesota Minimum Wage Increase
The Minnesota minimum wage increase takes effect tomorrow, August 1, 2014. This is the first of several planned increases over the next two years. For large employers (businesses with $500,000 or more in gross annual sales) the minimum wage will increase to $8.00 an...
Nanny Policies: Discipline and Severance
Two nanny policies that commonly arise during the employment relationship are that of disciplining an employee, and whether or not to provide severance pay should a nanny quit or be terminated. While household employment is largely at-will employment in most states,...
Penalties for Violating Wage and Hour Laws
Ensuring fair compensation is one of the keys to retaining a nanny or other household employee. To combat the double threat of an employee feeling underpaid or being pursued by another family, employers must make sure that their employees are paid for all hours...
Work Agreement Benefits
A work agreement benefits both the employer and nanny; it helps establish clear standards, rules, and procedures for the household and for the job. From listing the hours the nanny is expected to work and what his or her salary is, to explaining what a nanny must do...
Arranging Senior Care for a Family Member
The responsibility of finding outside care for an elderly parent or disabled loved one is not an easy task, but careful planning and consultations with specialists can ease the situation. The first step is to answer three basic questions: What level of senior care...
Hiring a Foreign Nanny or Other Employee
Since nearly one-quarter of the household industry’s employees are noncitizens, immigration is a very real consideration for hiring household help. Hiring a foreign nanny (or other household employee) is a complex process that involves a number of government...
Recordkeeping Requirements for Employers
According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers – including household employers - are required to keep records on wages, hours, and other items as specified by DOL recordkeeping regulations. No particular form is required, but certain identifying...
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