Archives

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Our former nanny applied for unemployment benefits? Will she get them? The working arrangement between a nanny and the family is considered employment at-will under US common law unless the written work agreement specifies a term of contract (which is a horrible idea). In broad terms, at-will employment means that employment is presumed to be voluntary and indefinite for both employees and employers. A nanny under... Read more »

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We are hiring a live-in nanny. How do you figure her room and board for tax purposes?

In general, the Internal Revenue Service (see §119(a)) allows you to exclude from income the value of meals and lodging furnished by the employer when hiring a live-in nanny or household worker (nanny room and board), provided the following conditions are met: Meals and lodging (room and board) must be furnished on the business premises… Read more »

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I hired a nanny. What about household employers workers’ compensation and disability insurance?

SUMMARY: State insurance regulations determine when household employers workers’ compensation and disability insurance are required. The rules vary by state. We recommend meeting with a licensed insurance broker to review all of your insurance needs when you become a household employer. HWS has a licensed insurance partner who will provide HWS clients a no obligation… Read more »

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Why is my nanny an hourly employee? I want to pay her a salary and not worry about tracking hours each week.

Nannies and other ‘domestic service employees’ are classified under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as non-exempt workers. The term non-exempt employee refers to a worker who IS subject to the terms of the FLSA regarding such issues as overtime compensation and minimum wage coverage, contemporaneous time tracking record keeping, as well as nanny pay… Read more »

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Duties of a Companion Senior Caregiver

Whether a senior caregiver is governed by Federal and State minimum wage and overtime laws hinges on two key elements. Who is the employer? What are the duties in the senior companion caregiver job description? Employment law, wage and hour law, and payroll tax requirements for privately employed companion senior caregivers (whether direct hire or… Read more »

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Senior Companions Minimum Wage Rules by State What are the minimum wage rules by state for senior companion caregivers? Employment law, wage and hour law, and payroll tax requirements for privately employed senior caregivers are governed by a complex assortment of Federal and state rules and legislation. The scope of duties is used on the Federal level to distinguish companionship care -... Read more »

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Human Resource Services for the Household Employer

It is rare to find a household with it’s own Human Resources Department. The good news is that HWS services go far beyond payroll and include many aspects of household HR functions. We’ve been helping clients understand the big picture of being a household employer since 1993 and are happy to do the same for… Read more »

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Great Options for Nanny Health Insurance Benefits More and more we’re getting nannies asking about how to get health insurance built into their compensation packages; we’re realizing many more employers asking how they can help with nanny health insurance benefits, too. That’s fantastic! Just knowing how to go about doing it is where things get confusing. Let's consider the question: what's a... Read more »

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G-5 Visa Domestic Servants and Medical Insurance The US Department of State requires that ALL G-5 and A-3 domestics be covered by a medical insurance policy with minimum essential coverage while residing in the U.S.  Who pays for the G-5 visa domestic servants medical insurance policy must be stipulated in the employment contract. Sponsors are encouraged to reimburse all or part of this... Read more »

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What is New Hire Reporting? I just hired a nanny.

What is new hire reporting exactly? The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 requires that all employers file a new hire report on all newly hired workers and re-hired workers within a specified period, generally 2 weeks, or incur a financial penalty. Each state has designated an agency responsible for the collection of… Read more »

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