{"id":27843,"date":"2021-09-10T12:38:21","date_gmt":"2021-09-10T16:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/?p=27843"},"modified":"2023-06-27T15:57:15","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T19:57:15","slug":"hiring-nanny-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/hiring-nanny-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Considerations When Hiring a Nanny During the Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"hiring-nanny-pandemic\"

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted just about every aspect of our daily lives including hiring a nanny. And on top of that are the challenges presented by the nanny labor shortage. Here’s what families should consider when looking for in-home childcare during the pandemic and with a tight job market.<\/p><\/div>\n

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted just about every aspect of our daily lives. That includes hiring a nanny for in-home childcare.<\/p>\n

While you need to follow the typical hiring process<\/a> when looking to bring a nanny into your home, there are now other factors due to the pandemic and the new Delta variant to keep your family safe.<\/p>\n

On top of everything is a nanny labor shortage<\/a> due to increasing demand for in-home childcare leading to a competitive job market and higher wages for nannies.<\/p>\n

Here are seven considerations for families when hiring a nanny during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

1. Virtual nanny interviews<\/h2>\n

During the pandemic, you may need to rely on virtual interviews when hiring a nanny to limit in-person exposure to applicants.<\/p>\n

Eventually, you will want to meet your top two or three candidates face-to-face and have them interact with your children. But during the screening process, when you are narrowing down applicants to the few you think are the best fit for your job, virtual interviews are the way to go.<\/p>\n

Here are nine steps to conducting virtual interviews<\/a> during the nanny hiring process.<\/p>\n

2. Nanny and family vaccination status<\/h2>\n

As a family hiring nanny, you can make a COVID-19 vaccination a condition of employment<\/a>. You would not be alone in having a vaccination requirement. In a recent survey of household employers conducted by GTM Payroll services, 84 percent of families said they will not hire a nanny who was not vaccinated.<\/p>\n

Young children are not eligible for vaccination yet, so parents most likely want their nannies to be vaccinated to create a safer environment.<\/p>\n

At the same time, you should consider your vaccination status as well. We also surveyed nannies and 51 percent said they would not take a job if the parents were unvaccinated. In an already tight job market, not being vaccinated can limit your options even further.<\/p>\n

3. Nanny risk tolerance level<\/h2>\n

The Delta variant has caused a recent uptick in COVID-19 infections in many cities and towns across the U.S. Many families are turning to nannies for private, in-home childcare to reduce their children\u2019s exposure to the coronavirus as compared to a daycare facility.<\/p>\n

While employing a nanny may be a safer choice, a family and their caregiver still need to be on the same page when it comes to COVID-19. It seems everyone has different behaviors and attitudes toward the pandemic. Make sure you and your nanny have a similar COVID-19 risk tolerance to avoid any potential issues down the road. You may want to ask your nanny if they are working with other families and whether they travel or plan to travel to higher-risk areas.<\/p>\n

The Association of Premier Nanny Agencies has prepared a handy COVID-19 Risk Tolerance Scale<\/a> that can you share with your caregiver or use during the nanny hiring process. It assigns a numerical value to your risk tolerance from 0 for very strict to 5 for very open.<\/p>\n

Download the COVID-19 Risk Tolerance Scale as a PDF<\/a><\/p>\n

4. COVID-19 pandemic protocols<\/h2>\n

When you have hired a nanny who has a similar risk tolerance, you will want to have protocols in place to help reduce the potential spread of the coronavirus and keep your family safe.<\/p>\n

Elements of a return-to-work plan<\/a> can also be used when employing someone in your home.<\/p>\n

Your safety protocols could include:<\/p>\n