Hellobee Boards

For severance I would specify if you terminate due to change in needs versus you terminating due to the nanny not performing the job well. Meaning, if you have to move or something, it would be nice to offer a week or two pay as severance but if you have to terminate because the nanny did something unsafe you wouldn't necessarily want to have to pay that.

Trust your instincts. If there are red flags, trust your gut. Check out all references. Our nanny is responsible for children meal preparation (not dinner), cleaning up after children's meals, tidying up toys, and children's laundry. But, she's primarily responsible for our 1yo as the older is in preschool while she is there, and it's in her contract that she may be responsible for preschool drop offs/pick ups and/or bringing children to activities. She asked for more hours (she's part time) so the way that we were able to accommodate that is that she does more housework. Primary responsibility is always the baby, but with extra hours and a baby who naps 2-3 hours a day, she gets it done.

We have a nanny contract with our nanny. It spells out PTO (including whether and when she's paid when the family is on vacation) and also when PTO accrues. You should consider a trial period before PTO or severance accrues. I learned the hard way with our first nanny! Our contract does not provide for severance. We say we will give 2 weeks notice, except in the event that we feel the safety of our children is at issue.

Also, I've found that being generous rather than penny pinching (not saying you are or would!) has garnered a lot of good will with our nanny! Good luck!

@Anagram: id also try to stipulate that she needs to give you X weeks notice if she decides to leave if she expects you to give her a reference. Just as you are discussing offering severance I think the street should run both ways. I've had friends whose Nannys tell them a week ahead of leaving.

Do you have a car? Can or will she drive it? Does she have a clean driving record?
Public transportation? What types are you comfortable letting her take LO on? (I don't know what type of area you live in)

If your family takes a vacation do you still pay her? Will that count as her vacation?

Agree on household duties. What she is comfortable doing and what you would like to be done (or not done, for that matter. I'm fine with folding laundry but I'm more particular about actually doing the laundry). Last week my part time nanny basically cleaned my entire house unasked because the baby took a long nap. But I reminded her this wasn't expected every time. (But I was actually doing backflips on the inside because she CLEANED my house best.day.ever)