{"id":38864,"date":"2024-08-30T09:00:52","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T13:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/?p=38864"},"modified":"2024-09-06T15:36:45","modified_gmt":"2024-09-06T19:36:45","slug":"online-nanny-job-site-settles-claims-of-deception","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/online-nanny-job-site-settles-claims-of-deception\/","title":{"rendered":"Care.com Settles Claims of Deception for $8.5M"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"online-nanny-job-site-settles-claims-of-deception\"

In light of Care.com’s settlement with the FTC over alleged \u201cunlawful practices,\u201d here’s why your family may have a better experience hiring through an agency rather than an online nanny job site.<\/p><\/div>\n

In a statement released earlier this week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said that Care.com has agreed to a proposed $8.5 million settlement<\/a> for alleged \u201cunlawful practices,\u201d including \u201cdeceptive advertising\u201d enticing caregivers to buy subscriptions to apply for jobs and \u201ca number of unlawful tactics\u201d to prevent families from being able to cancel their subscriptions.<\/p>\n

In 2020, Care.com paid $1 million to settle allegations<\/a> brought by two district attorneys in California over misrepresented background checks and unlawfully enrolling customers in auto-renewal subscriptions.<\/p>\n

That settlement came on the heels of a Wall Street Journal report<\/a> that found the platform didn\u2019t conduct complete background checks of its caregivers, placing that burden on families. The report also found<\/a> that unvetted, and even unlicensed, daycare centers were also listed on the site and that some of those providers were responsible for the deaths of children in their care.<\/p>\n

Hiring a nanny through an agency or online job site<\/h2>\n

You have choices when seeking an in-home caregiver for your children. Families use referrals from friends and family, social media, online job sites, and placement agencies, to name a few of the most popular ways to find household help.<\/p>\n

There is no question that websites and mobile apps have helped automate many tasks, saving us time and making our\u00a0lives easier. However, for families that hire household help, online and mobile platforms haven\u2019t produced significant efficiencies in hiring and vetting safe and qualified candidates or in quality of care.<\/p>\n

Based on a GTM survey of household employers, when a family hires a nanny through an agency rather than a website, they\u2019ll find a better-quality nanny, one they\u2019ll keep for longer and spend less time finding the right match.<\/p>\n

Sixty percent of families that hired a nanny through an agency have had only one nanny in the past five years, while only 39 percent of families that hire through a website can make that claim.<\/p>\n

Also, 58 percent of families that used an agency spent less than 20 hours on the hiring process<\/strong>. Of those hiring through a website, 59 percent spent more than 20 hours on hiring<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the same\u00a0survey of household employers, 74 percent of those who hired through an agency said the hassle-free process and time savings were the top reasons they decided to work with placement professionals.<\/p>\n

Agencies also aim to find the best matches for their clients, as 91 percent of families said security and screening candidates were the top reasons for going with an agency.<\/p>\n

Only the top applicants are presented to families for potential interviews, which helps cut down on hiring time and may result in a higher-quality nanny the family will want to retain for a longer period.<\/p>\n

The supposed benefit of using an online job site is a broader selection of candidates. However, 83 percent of respondents who used an online job site said the \u201cnumber of responses from unqualified candidates\u201d was one of the most significant drawbacks of going online to find a nanny. Sifting through applicants that don\u2019t match a family\u2019s criteria can add time and frustration to the hiring process.<\/p>\n

How to find a nanny agency<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019d like to hire through an agency, here are some tips for finding one that will fit your needs.<\/p>\n