What is a Nanny?

Responsibilities

Professional Nannies provide much more than supervision. They work alongside parents, as a team, while creating an engaging environment & ensuring that the children in their care are safe, healthy, and happy. A Nanny’s responsibility varies depending on the family’s needs, number of children, and their ages.

A Nanny’s responsibilities typically include total care of the children (feeding & bathing), organizing fun, educational, and engaging activities, light house cleaning related to children, social play, creative learning, and might include running errands at the family’s request.

It is extremely important for families to be as detailed and direct as possible concerning their expectations for their Nanny. For example, Is the Nanny expected to care for your children when they’re sick? Is domestic or international traveling required? Are they expected to cook for your child? Are they responsible for scheduling play dates? Are they responsible for taking your child to the Pediatrician and other medical appointments?

If a family desires their Nanny to help with household chores around the house that aren’t childcare related, they should communicate those expectations before hire. For example, grocery shopping for family, assisting with the family’s laundry, etc. Keep in mind, if the Nanny is required to do additional household chores that aren’t childcare related, their expected hourly rate will increase.

Schedule

A Nanny’s availability is one of the most important aspects of any successful Nanny position. Full-time Nannies typically work between 35 to 40 plus hours per week. Schedules solely depend on the family's needs. Families should provide clarity upfront with their Nanny regarding the hours and shifts that their Nanny is expected to work.

Nannies are “non-exempt” or protected workers, according to the Department of Labor’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Therefore, families MUST pay a Nanny for every hour that they work, and they MUST pay overtime of at least 1.5 times their hourly salary for every hour over 40 hours they work in a week.

Guaranteed Hours:

If a family desires their Nanny to place their family’s needs and time requests at the top of their to-do list, they should pay their Nanny consistently. So, even if a parent takes time off from work, arrives home early, goes on vacation, etc., and does not need their Nanny’s services, their Nanny should still be compensated.

Guaranteed hours do not only guarantee your Nanny consistent pay; but also promises their availability to care for your children during those hours.

Compensation

Nannies are household employees; therefore, they are legally required to be paid as a W-2 employee with all necessary legal taxes withheld. Families will pay their Nanny as an employee, and all of their withholding taxes and filings are the family’s responsibility.

The family is the Nanny’s employer. The family is completely responsible for their Nanny’s performance evaluations, salary, bonuses, raises, and benefits. Rates for professional Nannies will always range depending on the Nanny’s experience, degrees, certifications, and skills. Current rates for professional Nannies in Mississippi are between a gross of $18–$25+ per hour. 

Benefits

Oftentimes, when hiring a Nanny, families focus more so on hours and base pay while disregarding the Nanny’s employment benefits.

Like other professionals, Nannies expect and should receive employment benefits that guarantee them paid time off, paid holidays, mileage reimbursement, and other incentives that make their jobs more secure and worthwhile.

It’s important to recognize that the Nanny Industry is highly competitive and ensuring the best quality childcare means that families should be willing and able to provide standard employment benefits for their Nannies.

Families hoping to attract the highest-caliber Nanny candidates should consider offering the following Nanny Industry Standard Benefits:

• Guaranteed Hours

• Paid Sick Days (3-5)

• Paid Time-off (2 Weeks)

• Paid Holidays- All Federal/Bank Observed Holidays

• Full or partial contribution to their Nanny’s health insurance premium.

• Annual year-end Bonus (1-3 weeks of Nanny's gross compensation)

• Mileage Reimbursement

• Professional Development Assistance