I turned on the news this morning as I always do just to have "background noise" and they (Today Show) were in the middle of am interview with a Nanny that saved her charge from a house fire.
There she sat in a wheelchair, R hand and both feet burned and wrapped. Child she saved sitting there along side of her, tearful but thankfully okay, and the Dad/her Employer there too, humbled by her actions.
The interviewer said a couple of things that made me cringe:
#1 "The firefighters estimated the fire to be 400 degrees, you didn't have shoes on, you went in anyway and saved him (boy)."
#2 "You don't have insurance so you're not sure how you are going to pay your hospital bills."
Nanny agreed, doesn't have insurance and not sure what she's going to do.
Dad/Employer stated that he's lost his home and that since Nanny is now part of the family, he has to find a home suitable for his family and Nanny.
Commendable....however Nanny has no insurance and cannot work because she cannot walk nor use her R hand. Had Employer picked up a cheap policy, even maybe a policy for Hospitalization, Nanny's burden would be lightened.
So the question is: Should Nannies have health insurance provided by their Employers?
The resounding answer is YES.
If you are a Nanny and are in a FT/PT permanent position, insurance should be negotiated with your Employer before signing the Agreement.
If you're comfortable with using the internet and you need insurance quotes to have a starting point, you can google "health ins quotes." It's not recommended to fill out a webpage with all your info to wait for a quote...they'll just bug you, find a link that you can get it immediately.
Or go here: http://www.eisenbergassociates.com/
Take your quote info to your Employer, talk with them, hopefully they're open to paying the entire monthly bill, if not, then get them to agree with paying for 3/4 or 1/2 of the monthly invoice.
Give them the whole picture.........you are there for their child(ren), if you fall ill or have a debilitating accident, who's going to help their family, who's going to help you?
NannyMall is committed to all Nannies and their well-being. Nannies play an intricate role in family's lives, let's give them the respect and insurance they deserve.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
In Our Own Words
Why should families use a Nanny Agency? Doesn't it cost too much? What is the Agency's role? How do families benefit when using an Agency? Why can't families just use an inexpensive online Nanny locator?
Why should families use a Nanny Agency?
The use of an Agency cuts down your time spent looking for childcare. A dedicated Agency will take the time to learn your needs, spend time going over your family application, making sure nothing is overlooked or forgotten.
Agencies should and will match criteria between both the family app and the Nanny app, cutting out the Nannies families wouldn't even consider. Agencies contact Nanny's references, eliminating "phone tag" for the families.
Doesn't it cost too much?
Some Agencies charge Registration and then a flat Agency Placement Fee only after Nanny is hired. NannyMall's Fees can be found on the website. (NannyMall charges a flat fee)
Though most Agencies charge a Registration Fee and a percentage of the Nanny's Annual Gross once placement is confirmed. For example: Nanny's Annual Gross Pay is $28,000. That's a placement fee of $2800. (plus Registration)
The fees we are discussing are for permanent placement; the fees for On-call Nannies are relatively inexpensive! They can range from $12 to $25 per on-call placement.
What is the Agency's role?
Agencies are to provide excellent services to families in need of experienced childcare. They are there to walk you through the process of hiring the very best Nanny for your family. The family has unbiased people, aka the agency, to discuss each Nanny's portfolio should the decision become difficult. i.e. we're your sounding board! :-)
How do families benefit when using an Agency?
1. They have a knowledgeable staff to help guide them.
2. They know the ins and outs of hiring a Nanny.
3. They perform the interviews, backgrounds, reference checks.
4. They work side by side with Household Tax specialists. (who can teach the family how to pay Nanny legally AND help save on their taxes!)
5. They provide forms that help smooth out the hiring. (less confusion when there's a family-nanny agreement in place)
6. Most importantly your Nanny Placement Agency is there to help and encourage you through
the entire process so that the very best Nanny is found for your children.
Why can't families just use an inexpensive online Nanny locator?
They can....but there are many Agencies that would discourage that process and here are a couple of reasons why: Agencies screen potential Nannies with many methods: application, face to face interviews, reference cks, background checks, personal character references, etc.... Should any of those come up as a negative, Nanny isn't used within the Agency.
Some of these Nannies that have been turned away from an Agency will turn to an online Nanny placement service. And there's a real good chance they won't tell you why they were turned away from an Agency, nor is it probable the family will even know to ask if Nanny did apply with an Agency and then ask why she isn't with said Agency.
So a local Agency is your first defense in making sure Nanny is who she says she is and really has the experience she says she has.
These are the people that are coming into your home every week and spending time with your precious children and they should be who they say they are. Plain and simple.
Also, I'm not one to use a cliche' but, you get what you pay for......who do you turn to when "hired from the internet Nanny" decides to bail for the day or week or worse yet, totally? Do you have a backup plan/person to take over?
When you use an Agency, the Agency first makes sure Nanny is on the up an up and not only that, they also have meticulously weeded out the "not for us Nanny" and have given you only the best of the best. Not to mention....should the best of the best not feel well one day, Agency has backup Nannies that can be called out to help!
A call to your local Agency is the first step a family should take when hiring childcare.
Although, it is true that you can find great help online....Agencies just make it easier.
These are but a handful of Why's w/the questions answered....written in Our Own Words.
NannyMall is local to St. Louis and St. Charles, MO and offers many services to meet your childcare needs.
Why should families use a Nanny Agency?
The use of an Agency cuts down your time spent looking for childcare. A dedicated Agency will take the time to learn your needs, spend time going over your family application, making sure nothing is overlooked or forgotten.
Agencies should and will match criteria between both the family app and the Nanny app, cutting out the Nannies families wouldn't even consider. Agencies contact Nanny's references, eliminating "phone tag" for the families.
Doesn't it cost too much?
Some Agencies charge Registration and then a flat Agency Placement Fee only after Nanny is hired. NannyMall's Fees can be found on the website. (NannyMall charges a flat fee)
Though most Agencies charge a Registration Fee and a percentage of the Nanny's Annual Gross once placement is confirmed. For example: Nanny's Annual Gross Pay is $28,000. That's a placement fee of $2800. (plus Registration)
The fees we are discussing are for permanent placement; the fees for On-call Nannies are relatively inexpensive! They can range from $12 to $25 per on-call placement.
What is the Agency's role?
Agencies are to provide excellent services to families in need of experienced childcare. They are there to walk you through the process of hiring the very best Nanny for your family. The family has unbiased people, aka the agency, to discuss each Nanny's portfolio should the decision become difficult. i.e. we're your sounding board! :-)
How do families benefit when using an Agency?
1. They have a knowledgeable staff to help guide them.
2. They know the ins and outs of hiring a Nanny.
3. They perform the interviews, backgrounds, reference checks.
4. They work side by side with Household Tax specialists. (who can teach the family how to pay Nanny legally AND help save on their taxes!)
5. They provide forms that help smooth out the hiring. (less confusion when there's a family-nanny agreement in place)
6. Most importantly your Nanny Placement Agency is there to help and encourage you through
the entire process so that the very best Nanny is found for your children.
Why can't families just use an inexpensive online Nanny locator?
They can....but there are many Agencies that would discourage that process and here are a couple of reasons why: Agencies screen potential Nannies with many methods: application, face to face interviews, reference cks, background checks, personal character references, etc.... Should any of those come up as a negative, Nanny isn't used within the Agency.
Some of these Nannies that have been turned away from an Agency will turn to an online Nanny placement service. And there's a real good chance they won't tell you why they were turned away from an Agency, nor is it probable the family will even know to ask if Nanny did apply with an Agency and then ask why she isn't with said Agency.
So a local Agency is your first defense in making sure Nanny is who she says she is and really has the experience she says she has.
These are the people that are coming into your home every week and spending time with your precious children and they should be who they say they are. Plain and simple.
Also, I'm not one to use a cliche' but, you get what you pay for......who do you turn to when "hired from the internet Nanny" decides to bail for the day or week or worse yet, totally? Do you have a backup plan/person to take over?
When you use an Agency, the Agency first makes sure Nanny is on the up an up and not only that, they also have meticulously weeded out the "not for us Nanny" and have given you only the best of the best. Not to mention....should the best of the best not feel well one day, Agency has backup Nannies that can be called out to help!
A call to your local Agency is the first step a family should take when hiring childcare.
Although, it is true that you can find great help online....Agencies just make it easier.
These are but a handful of Why's w/the questions answered....written in Our Own Words.
NannyMall is local to St. Louis and St. Charles, MO and offers many services to meet your childcare needs.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Insurance Rates---Until they raise yours, you don't think about it.
Blogging isn't a strong suit of mine. I have plenty to say all the time but that doesn't mean it has to go into print.
Today I have 2.5 million things on my plate, addressing mail that came in was one of them.
As I looked through the typical junk mail, BUY ME BUY ME! and the bills, I saw an envelope
from our ins co, GHP. Okay, cool, probably just a "this is not a bill" notice.
I opened it and stopped in my tracks......my daughter's ins rate went from $136 a month to $285 a month beginning April 1, 2010. I don't know what the exact percentage is but I do know it's OVER a 100% increase!
---Please if you are an Ins Rep do not contact me for a new policy, we have a rep in our family. Thank you.---
Anyway, I half listen to the news, people are reporting their rates go up, in-fact I heard them state that some rates go up "as much as 60%," hello.........how about over 100%?!
So I will be on the hunt for a different ins company effective today....after I complete the other 2.5 million things on my plate. ( I think it really bothers me because I have told client after client, nanny after nanny, "go to GHP, they have great rates.......")
This also affects the Nanny industry. Say a family hires a Nanny for 2 years. They offer to pay for her insurance and they work in out in their budget so everyone is happy. The first year is fine but the renewal notice comes, it's going to raise to an uncomfortable amount, family has a few choices: Tell Nanny they can no longer offer the coverage - Tell Nanny she has to kick in the difference - Start the search for new insurance all over again.
All three of those scenarios aren't ideal.
I'm hopeful the insurance companies realize what they are doing and just stop it.
Today I have 2.5 million things on my plate, addressing mail that came in was one of them.
As I looked through the typical junk mail, BUY ME BUY ME! and the bills, I saw an envelope
from our ins co, GHP. Okay, cool, probably just a "this is not a bill" notice.
I opened it and stopped in my tracks......my daughter's ins rate went from $136 a month to $285 a month beginning April 1, 2010. I don't know what the exact percentage is but I do know it's OVER a 100% increase!
---Please if you are an Ins Rep do not contact me for a new policy, we have a rep in our family. Thank you.---
Anyway, I half listen to the news, people are reporting their rates go up, in-fact I heard them state that some rates go up "as much as 60%," hello.........how about over 100%?!
So I will be on the hunt for a different ins company effective today....after I complete the other 2.5 million things on my plate. ( I think it really bothers me because I have told client after client, nanny after nanny, "go to GHP, they have great rates.......")
This also affects the Nanny industry. Say a family hires a Nanny for 2 years. They offer to pay for her insurance and they work in out in their budget so everyone is happy. The first year is fine but the renewal notice comes, it's going to raise to an uncomfortable amount, family has a few choices: Tell Nanny they can no longer offer the coverage - Tell Nanny she has to kick in the difference - Start the search for new insurance all over again.
All three of those scenarios aren't ideal.
I'm hopeful the insurance companies realize what they are doing and just stop it.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Nannies, please take this Survey!
The International Nanny Assoc. wants to hear from you!
Please complete this survey...it'll take just a few minutes of your time!
Thank you!
http://guest.cvent.com/SURVEYS/Welcome.aspx?s=4d4d1f8f-dc63-44c8-ba1e-ec9a88d72a2d
Please complete this survey...it'll take just a few minutes of your time!
Thank you!
http://guest.cvent.com/SURVEYS/Welcome.aspx?s=4d4d1f8f-dc63-44c8-ba1e-ec9a88d72a2d
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