{"id":4188,"date":"2020-01-28T10:22:23","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T15:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/?p=4188"},"modified":"2023-01-20T11:39:05","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T16:39:05","slug":"live-in-nanny-hiring-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/household\/live-in-nanny-hiring-guidelines\/","title":{"rendered":"Hire and Employ a Live-in Nanny"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"live-in-nanny-hiring-guide\"

Here’s what to consider when hiring and employing a live-in nanny.<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re seeking in-home care for your children, you may be wondering whether a live-in nanny would be the right choice for you.<\/p>\n

A live-in nanny doesn\u2019t need to commute to your home so you don\u2019t have to worry about your caregiver getting stuck in traffic and arriving late for work. They may even be able to take a more active role in your morning routine especially if you need to get kids off to school or deal with a baby who was up all night.<\/p>\n

A live-in nanny may also provide more flexibility for parents that need to work late, frequently travel for work, or have non-traditional or varied work schedules (like a surgeon who is on-call). Live-in nannies still need to be paid for all hours they work (we\u2019ll get into pay rates and overtime) but they may be better able to handle any changes to your schedule if they live in your home.<\/p>\n

Considering a live-in nanny is not a decision to be taken lightly. Think about the benefits and drawbacks of having someone outside of your family living in your home. You\u2019ll gain flexibility but you\u2019re also giving up some privacy.<\/p>\n

If your child has medical issues and needs specialized care \u2013 perhaps even around-the-clock attention \u2013 you shouldn\u2019t hire a live-in nanny as a solution. They may not be able to provide the proper supervision and protection your child requires.<\/p>\n

What Does a Live-in Nanny Cost?<\/h2>\n

A live-in nanny should receive the same rate of pay you would consider for a live-out caregiver. The fact that they receive room and board shouldn\u2019t lessen their pay.<\/p>\n

The national average hourly rate for a full-time nanny is approximately $20\/hour. There isn’t much difference in pay rate for live-in and live-out employees. The difference in costs for a live-in nanny is in the number of hours you plan to have the nanny available to work.<\/p>\n

Live-in nannies are paid for all hours they\u2019re on duty and \u201con call.\u201d If your live-in nanny needs to be at your home and isn\u2019t free to leave, then they need to be paid for those hours.<\/p>\n

To determine how much your live-in nanny will cost, add pay for the hours your nanny will work, any overtime pay if applicable, and any additional expenses that you may incur like food and internet\/cable. Don’t forget to include the taxes you are required to pay for employing a nanny. GTM’s nanny tax calculator<\/a> can help with estimating what you will owe as well as incorporate any savings from a dependent care fsa.<\/p>\n

Sleep time<\/h3>\n

You may be able to exclude sleep time if, for example, you\u2019re traveling for work and your nanny is taking care of your children around the clock. Up to eight hours per night can be excluded. However, any interruption to their sleep time must be paid. If during the night, your nanny doesn\u2019t get reasonable periods of uninterrupted sleep totaling at least five hours, then you may not exclude sleep time.<\/p>\n

Do Live-in Nannies Pay Rent?<\/h3>\n

Often families think that they can pay a live-in nanny less than a nanny who commutes to the family\u2019s home because they are providing room and board.\u00a0However, they should receive the same rate of pay and you are still required to meet the minimum hourly wage rate in your state.<\/p>\n

According to the IRS, families who employ a live-in nanny can exclude the cost of room and board from their nanny\u2019s pay as long as the meals and housing are provided in the family\u2019s home, for the family\u2019s convenience. If you choose to deduct this amount from your nanny\u2019s wages, you still must pay them an hourly rate at or above the prevailing minimum wage.<\/p>\n

In some states, like Massachusetts, you aren\u2019t allowed to deduct the cost of housing from your nanny\u2019s pay if the job requires them to live in your house. You may also be deemed a landlord if you take room and board out of your employee\u2019s wages because now your nanny is considered to be paying rent. You\u2019ll need a landlord-tenant agreement along with a nanny contract<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Overtime Pay for a Live-in Nanny<\/h3>\n

Most live-in nannies are exempt from overtime pay. Any hours worked over 40 in a seven-day workweek are paid at their normal hourly rate. However live-in workers in several states<\/a> \u2013 including California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon \u2013 are required to be paid overtime when they exceed a certain number of hours in a day or workweek.<\/p>\n

Finding the Right Live-in Nanny<\/h2>\n

It can be difficult enough to find an ideal caregiver for your children even when your employee doesn\u2019t live with you. You need to find someone who is trustworthy, responsible, experienced, and connects well with your children among other qualities<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To have this person live in your home brings on another set of complexities.<\/p>\n

Will they mesh with your lifestyle? Do you need to change any of your routines or habits? What about their habits and mannerisms?<\/p>\n

You need someone who will not only be a loving caregiver for your children but also be well-suited for your home. They should know how you run your home and fit in with the rest of the family.<\/p>\n

You may want to talk to other families that have had live-in nannies to understand their challenges and how they made the arrangement work both for them and their employee.<\/p>\n

When hiring a live-in nanny, you may want to perform a more in-depth background check<\/a> and ask for additional references including from families that they have lived with.<\/p>\n

Nanny placement agencies can be a good source of candidates that are looking for live-in placements<\/p>\n

Your live-in nanny candidates are also evaluating you during the hiring process. They\u2019re looking for an employer who is fair, honest, and trustworthy.<\/p>\n

Live-in Nanny Work Agreement<\/h2>\n

Everything mentioned in this article \u2013 including duties, accommodations, schedule, pay, benefits, expectations, house rules, and more \u2013 should be included in a work agreement or nanny contract<\/a>. With a live-in nanny, you have other considerations that should be spelled out and communicated to your employee. Some questions to think about:<\/p>\n