The Parent (employer) Responsibilities

Being a nanny is a professional career, and a nanny's livelihood relies heavily on her income. For your benefit as well as the nanny’s, it is very important to set up a formal contract. This contract should include the following information:

1. The nanny’s days and hours of work
2. The nanny’s daily/weekly responsibilities
3. Length of the contract
4. The salary
5. Over-time compensation
6. Nanny paid holidays, holiday notices, sick leave
7. Nanny conduct requirements
8. Drug & alcohol policy
9. Maternity leave & pay (statutory minimum)
10. Accommodation (if the nanny is employed for a live-in position)
11. Travel requirements (if any) – expectations for nanny and employer’s responsibilities
12. Petty cash handling procedures
13. Confidentiality
14. Termination and notice periods for both parties
15. Nanny disciplinary and grievance procedures

A nanny, like all employees in the UK, should receive four weeks paid holiday (pro-rata if (s)he works on a part-time basis). Generally, the nanny is allowed to select two of these weeks at his/her convenience and the other two weeks are chosen at the family’s convenience. A permanent nanny is entitled to 52 weeks of work per annum, so if the family does not require their nanny to work any part of the regularly scheduled hours, (s)he is supposed to be paid for that time or given the opportunity to make it up later in the week.

It is always essential to communicate with your nanny on a regular basis, and to discuss any requirements you have. Also, please do explain to your nanny the rules in your family, how you would like your children to be brought up, the daily routine your children are used to or you would like them to follow. The nanny may not agree or understand, therefore it is essential to talk about this properly before making the final offer and then regularly about any concerns you might have. It is however important to listen to your nanny as well as your children.

Nannies do usually have a very good knowledge about the childcare and can be very helpful, and it is up to you, if you would like her to give you any advice or even take over the whole childcare responsibility, although it is important that you agree with what she is doing and reinforce her.