Family Leave for Household Employees
Kristin Sarmiento
There can be a lot of excitement and uncertainty when your nanny shares the news they are expecting a child of their own. Here are some industry standards we recommend and a few things to keep in mind when considering family leave for your household employee:
Typically, employers will offer any accrued PTO plus 2-4 weeks paid family leave. That being said, many caregivers will choose to take anywhere between 6-8 weeks. Oftentimes if an employee has been with the family for a while, the employers may offer more paid maternity leave.
Our agency can help find coverage for your employee’s family leave. If your employee is returning to work for your family after their family leave, you are more than welcome to access our temp pool for backup care, regardless of your 1 year guarantee status. If you are under your 1 year guarantee and your employee is not returning after their family leave, we are more than happy to provide you with a rehire. If you have surpassed your 1 year guarantee and your employee is not returning, any additional placements would be considered a “new hire”.
Tag-a-longs & Sidekicks
A tag-a-long or sidekick is a child that accompanies your caregiver during their work day. Some caregivers will ask for occasional flexibility for a tag-a-long (e.g. school closures), while others may request that their child be a permanent sidekick. Below are a few examples that typically pop up when considering if a sidekick is the right fit for your family:
A sidekick does not merit a decrease in pay or exclusion from bonuses or raises. A sidekick is mutually beneficial and does not affect your nanny’s qualifications. The perk for the nanny is they save on childcare costs and the perk for the family is they receive continued care from someone they and their children know, love, and trust.
Tag-a-longs can be built in buddies for your kiddo and help cut down on exposure to illnesses. Especially if your children are close in age, a tag-a-long can be a great chance for a new best friend. It can also cut down on exposure to illnesses, like COVID, if your caregiver’s child is not in a daycare setting.
If you decide a tag-a-long is not the right fit for your family, consider offering a childcare stipend or increase in hourly rate for your caregiver. Tag-a-longs aren’t always the right choice for every family dynamic and that’s okay. Be open to discussing a monthly stipend or a slight increase in rate to help compensate for childcare.