Here at Kith & Kin, we do a LOT of nanny interviews. If you've just walked out of an in-person interview with a nanny agency, first off, congratulations! We aren't like most agencies in that our schedule is super tight - we aren't able to let just anyone walk through the office door for an interview. To get to that point, you've already made it past some initial behind-the-scenes vetting processes, and an invitation for a face-to-face interview is often a critical final stage in our candidacy process. 

      Unfortunately, however, a face-to-face interview with a nanny agency does not necessarily guarantee that we will be able to place you in a position, no matter how​ well you do. While we wish that we had the perfect nanny family for every qualified candidate who walks through our door, there are a lot of other factors at play that can affect your chances. Here are some common post-interview questions nannies ask us. Hopefully some of our responses can help demystify the process. 

We would love to say yes, but we can’t guarantee it. Our role is to represent you well: we share your resume, the comments from your references, your essays, and our thoughts about why you’re great for a specific family, but ultimately, it is the family’s decision to move forward with you, or another candidate. ​

This can be extremely frustrating, disappointing, and borderline hurtful to be rejected multiple times. Take it in stride. Understand that parents may choose other candidates not because of something you did or did not do, but because of something another candidate said that resonated with them deeper. Maybe it was something as simple as start date, or salary. Most of the times, clients don’t reject a candidate based on their performance, but because the candidate pool was so strong. Maybe they have met many people before you who were further along in their process, or perhaps you were the first and they wanted to see more candidates before deciding. Or, a different candidate could have had slightly more education or experience than you. It’s such a tricky process step by step. We encourage you to not get too down about it - it’s not a reflection of who you are as a person.

​There are always things you can improve upon in an interview, and it's important to keep this in mind as a point of "interview practice". But also, when interviewing as a nanny, it's important to remember that parents have much greater "hiring-anxiety" than employers in other fields! Not only do they want to find someone qualified, but they are looking for a person who can mold to their specific family and work in their private space. If a family chooses not to move forward with a candidate, it's often not because they think the candidate is under-qualified or not-likable. Often these parents think there's a better fit for you out there! 

They are truly looking for you! They want to know what you’re all about, in a professional sense. Share your philosophies, and your heart for working with children. Ask great questions about the role to help you understand it, as well as to prove to them that you're interested in more than just a paycheck. Listen to what they have to say, and go home and evaluate after the interview if you feel like you’d make a great match. It is not just up to the parents to decide if it feels like the connection is good! Ask us for feedback, and if we have any constructive criticism to share, understand that it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person - it means you can improve!

Absolutely! You need to do what you is best for you, and that includes widening your net to catch the best opportunities. Know that we are here to support you, and when we send you to a job, it is because we truly believe you are an excellent fit.  

Now that you’ve passed our process, please keep us in loop. 
Tell us which jobs you’re interested in, and respond quickly to emails. Often, securing a good nanny job can be a game of perfect timing. A candidate who has just had a great family interview, but who fails to respond quickly to a follow-up email will be a red-flag to parents who are expecting prompt communication from their future nanny. 

If you have gone on several family interviews with an agency but have not yet successfully been placed in a new position, don't panic! Here at KITH & KIN, we believe in encouraging a partnership between the nanny and their employers which belies on shared professional goals and values. This doesn't happen every day! Finding the right family can take time. If you have gone on multiple interviews without much luck, think about how you might better present yourself to potential employers. Make sure that you are selling your strengths and values in your answers! Be sure to make an effort to get to know the values and ideals of the parents you are being interviewed by as well. This will show the family that you are serious about forming a long-term connection with them and their children, rather than just someone who will take the first job that is offered. 

These are just some of the common post-interview questions nannies ask us. If you are a nanny with another specific question regarding the follow-up of your candidacy, feel free to ask us in the comment section below, or shoot us an email here!

You work hard as a nanny! Long days of activity planning, meal prepping, and potty training can leave you in need of a well-deserved vacation, once in a while. But how will your nanny-family manage without you? Don't worry, we promise they will.

Working long hours without building time for a personal nanny vacation can leave you feeling burned-out and frustrated, and no employer wants that. If you're thinking about using some of your vacation days to go on a trip, just make sure to make an extra effort to prepare your nanny-family for your time off. Here's some tips on how you can make for the smoothest experience possible, for both you and your employers. 

Freeze a few dinners by making a double batch of the children's favorite meals. Lasagnas, soups, breaded chicken, and other items that freeze easily are great things to store away for while you're gone. Make sure anything else your replacement nanny might need is also stocked, such as laundry detergent, diapers, shampoo and conditioner for the children. 

   Line up some replacements for each of the days you'll be gone, or give suggestions of nannies they could call and interview if they would prefer to take the lead. Ask around if any of your nanny friends can cover any of the days you'll be gone. If your employers would prefer to interview your replacement themselves, ask your friends if you can pass along their contact information. ​Use your nanny network!

​    Jot down notes of your routines and general day-to-day duties. You don't have to write an entire handbook, but it can be helpful to put into writing what your typical schedule looks like, to make the transition as easy as possible both for the family and for your replacement. Write down some of the children's favorite foods, favorite local parks, or favorite bedtime stories. These tips will go a long way in making your absence as easy as possible for your nanny family. But it will also show them just how much you care about their family and are paying attention to their children. 

     For a parent of a child with even a mild food allergy, it can be extremely daunting to leave your child with a new person, one who may slip and forget what snacks have hidden ingredients, or to double check with the kitchen staff at a new restaurant.  For your peace of mind, here are some great tips to help ensure that you and your nanny are on the same page when it comes to how to feed your children. 

     Here at Kith & Kin, we're huge believers in work agreements! Putting details in writing allows both parents and nannies much greater peace of mind, so that uncertainties and misunderstandings don't arise down the road and all expectations are clear.
            If you are the parent of a child with a food allergy, or if you just want to make sure your nanny is preparing a similar diet to what you already have in place for your child, putting the details in a contract can be extremely helpful. If there are certain food items or ingredients that your child must not eat, then lay those out in writing.  If you only let your child have a sweet snack on certain special occasions, explain this in the contract.
         While this might seem overbearing, remember that your nanny is not a mind-reader, and it always helps to have something to refer back to! Every family is a little different, and the way you approach your child's diet will not necessarily be the same as the family they have worked with before. Laying out all the specifics for your child's diet, will help avoid uncertainty for your nanny. Be sure to give your nanny a copy of the contract, and/or put it up somewhere in the kitchen where they can use it for reference if ever they have a question. 

       If you are the parent of a child with a food allergy, you might have learned to prepare specific dishes in order to avoid certain ingredients. You also will be aware of which prepared foods have hidden ingredients that could be dangerous for your child's food allergy.
        In order to ease your nanny into the food norms of your family, write out a sample menu for a week or two, and give it to them to refer or add to. Include the dishes that your child is used to, and you would normally prepare for them, along with ingredients and instructions for your nanny.
         Providing a menu for the first few weeks will ease your nanny into your lifestyle and food preferences, and get them acquainted with the types of dishes and ingredients your child is used to. Eventually, these dishes and ingredients will become second nature to your nanny. Include suggestions for snacks and prepared foods that are OK with you. Also include a detailed list of foods and snacks that are not okay to feed your child with a food allergy. 
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        The experience of eating a meal out a restaurant can be so stressful and tedious. Even the most well-meaning kitchen staff might not be aware of every ingredient in their dishes. While it can be easy for a nanny to grab a quick lunch in the middle of their day out with your child, if you are the parent of a child with a food allergy you know that sometimes it's best to avoid eating out all-together.
      Explain this to your nanny, and make sure you always have meals or ingredients to prepare a quick and easy meal for your child on hand. If you know for certain of specific restaurants or dishes that are safe for your child to eat, write out a list of those and include it in your nanny's work agreement. After all, when it comes to having a child with a food allergy, you can't be too specific with your requests or requirements.

       Before the first day of work, make sure your child's nanny knows the specific protocol should they have an allergic reaction. Write down for your nanny the specific instructions that they should follow if your child shows signs of a reaction (and even talk about what those signs are).
       If your child needs to be administered an epileptic-pen, make sure your nanny always carries one on their person and knows exactly how to use it - The Red Cross has special trainings for this, and it's prudent to pay for your nanny to attend.
     Be sure to write down the contact information for which doctor to call, or which hospital to go to, in the case of an emergency, and have a copy of this in their diaper bag, backpack, and stored in a Note on your nanny's phone - anywhere that is easily accessible.

      As with any case of a child with a special need or care, the most important piece of advice is to be, and constantly remain, as prepared as possible, while also preparing others in case Plan A falls through.  By following these tips and strategies, your nanny will be ready and knowledgeable about what is safe and what is not. When in doubt, your nanny can pass on an item and substitute it for something else. If you have time to prepare your child's food, do. If not, provide your nanny with clear instructions on what to prepare for your child's meals. Leave many ready-to-go snacks for your nanny to give your child, if they're out for the day. 
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       All of these tips will help set you up for success and ensure there are no misunderstandings or missteps in the event of an allergic reaction!

If you've ridden on the subway in recent weeks, you will have noticed numerous ads for the new raise in minimum wage here in NYC. As of December 31st, 2018, New York City employees will see the third raise in minimum wage since 2016. This newest increase is part of a law signed into action by Governor Cuomo, which promised a new minimum wage of $15/hour for all New York State employees by the end of 2019. This new minimum, however, is being enacted gradually and differentially - based on the employer's size and location. We'll break it down to what the new minimum wage in NYC might mean for you, the nannies of New York City!

If you work as a nanny here in NYC, chances are you are the sole employee for your nanny family, or one of a handful of domestic staff. The new minimum wage in NYC for employers with 10 or fewer employees is $13.50/hour. This rate will increase to $15/hr at the end of 2019. But, for now, if you are employed among less than 10 others you can expect to be making at minimum $13.50 an hour. If you are employed among more than 10 other employees, the new minimum wage is $15/hour. 

     It depends.  While the new minimum wage for NYC employees is a commendable move in the right direction for workers' rights nationwide, the fact of the matter is that it is darn near impossible to survive here on $540/week, pre-tax, even with over time in place.
​
    Qualified nanny professionals with experience, extra trainings, and credentials are often considering going the agency route when searching for new employment at a live-able salary, as referrals are often not at the level of professionalism they need, and the reputation of online sitter-services is poor, with the assertion from many being that these sites have normalized low hourly-rates, due to the amount of entry-level nannies using these services.
   If you're an inexperienced sitter looking to break into the field and pick up some babysitting on the side, online sitter-services are often the route for you until you become more qualified. However, if you are a professional nanny, looking for a full-time role, then you do not need to compete with entry-level caretakers for cash-positions. 

If you've been working as a nanny for at least two straight years, then you are no longer an entry-level employee. If you are CPR Certified, have education coursework, a background in teaching, experience with newborns, or any other marketable childcare assets, then you are well above minimum wage, in the $18-20/hr range.
     Working with an agency ensures that your particular skillset and credentials will be highlighted to any potential employers. It also ensures that, at least through KITH & KIN, the families you're meeting will already have a standard of respect for their future employee, know their obligations on a living and viable "gross-pay" wage, guaranteed hours, sick and vacation time, and know from our first conversation that entry-level employees will not make it through our extensive nanny-vetting process. They also understand that they must be willing to give their nanny a certain standard of professional respect. 

For your job,  either the job and experience expectations will need to decrease, or the childcare budget will have to rise. Unable to do one of those two things, some families have looked into nanny-shares, live-in au-pairs whom are younger and less experienced, or whole-group childcare centers. While each of those three options are not as convenient as an experienced career nanny, over the past few years without this rise, it has become, and will continue to become, harder to find qualified nannies whom are able to be vetted fully and still pay $15/hr. 
      We know first-hand the cost of living and childcare here in NYC is extremely high. This is the reason why so many families weigh their careers and relocation out of the city. It is a tough conversation to have! ​

If you are a family interested in hiring a nanny in NYC and the greater metro area, and are confused about rates and taxes, get in touch with us here.  If you are a nanny with questions about your wages, we may be able to steer you to the right resource, so please get in touch here.

     The holidays are here in full swing, and it seems like there's an endless list of people you want to show a small gesture of appreciation for the part they've played in your life this past year. From school teachers, to coworkers, to the person at the coffeeshop who always remembers your order, these are the people who make your world go round!

     One person you can't let slip through the cracks this holiday season is your beloved nanny! Day after day you leave your child in his or her trusted hands. They have seen the meltdowns, and the accidents, they've cleaned up countless crumbs and toys. What would you do without them? While a year-end bonus is the norm for most consistently employed childcare professionals (check out our 2017 blog post on how to give your nanny a holiday bonus), a personal gift is also a great way to show your nanny just how much you appreciate them. Why not have the kids help write your nanny a special thank you card, and give it to them alongside one of these five great holiday gift ideas for your nanny! 

​Kate Spade - ​Notebook & Tackle Box

Does your nanny love to stay organized? Give their desk set a refresh with this super fun Kate Spade Tackle Box so they can keep doing what they do best, in style! 

​Becoming by Michelle Obama

     Does your nanny always show up with a book to read on their train ride, or after your little one goes to bed? Why not wrap up a copy of Michelle Obama's acclaimed new book Becoming Michelle Obama. It's a must-read for all!

​Tandem Ceramics - 22 K. Golden Mug
​     Support one of our favorite small businesses AND give your nanny the most beautiful handmade mug to enjoy their morning coffee or tea. One of these Tandem Ceramics Golden Mugs is sure to be a most beloved holiday gift for your nanny. 
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​Windswell Vanity Tray 

Does your nanny always show up sporting a nice necklace or set of rings? Why not get them a sweet little tray for their vanity, to keep all their special treasures in. We happen to love this Windswell Vanity Tray by Carolina Silva. 

​Colorblock Knit Scarf

      Is your nanny great about getting your little ones outside everyday, even on these cold winter days? Why not give them a super cute token of your thanks and an extra layer of protection from the cold at the same time! A scarf like this Colorblock Knit Scarf is sure to go a long way in letting your nanny know you care!

Jo Malone - Peony & Blush Suede Body Oil

      Your nanny works hard, and it's not always rose-smelling work! Give them a special treat for their relaxing weekend off, with this beautiful smelling Peony and Blush Suede - Hair & Body Oil by Jo Malone. We're obsessed. 

Please note: this blogpost covers domestic employees in New York State. It is intended to educate nannies and housekeepers on the benefits of accepting legally paid salaries; it is not to replace the advice of a lawyer, as the laws that are constantly changing. Please consult a reputable payroll company such as HomeWork Solutions for more information on your specific state's domestic employment laws and procedures.

       We here at KITH & KIN often hear candidates state that they only want to be paid in cash, despite being able to accept legal pay, for many understandable reasons. While admittedly, it is the norm for many domestic workers to be paid illegally in cash (an estimated 75%!), there are a myriad of benefits and protections household employees lose out on by being paid in cash, and when accepting cash only for a nanny job, you are also assuming all risks for you and your family's future financial and health situation, especially should you find yourself out of work for a period of time -- a heavy and costly burden to bear!  

      With the advent of laws like Lulu and Leo's Law and many advocacy groups like the NDWA calling for better protections for both families and workers, the trend will be for more and more domestic workers to be paid in a legal manner. For this reason, we have compiled the benefits of legal pay. Here are our top 10 reasons why nannies and housekeepers should insist on being paid "on the books" right now. 

      When you insist on being paid legally, this demonstrates to a family that you take your job seriously as a professional who needs to be compensated fairly and legally for your work. It shows that you are committed to your work supporting them, and that you are also relying on them to support you as you make a long-term living, just as you would in any other field. 
     When your employer agrees to pay legally, they are demonstrating their belief that you deserve legal protections and benefits, just as they receive in their work, too!  Even though they may be offering a lot of great benefits like guaranteed minimum hours and paid time-off, they also believe that ethically, you deserve an extra level of protection as individual and professional.  ​

      Let’s say that on Sunday night, you get a text from your boss that tomorrow, you are no longer needed because a spot opened at daycare, and their child starts the next morning. Now, most parents would not leave you high and dry without notice, (especially if you have a solid work agreement in place before the job commences!), however you may never know your employer's private financial situation or debts. They may appear to have it all, and then the economy crashes overnight, or they find out they have lost every penny to a Ponzi scheme, and now they find themselves unable to pay you the $2500 buffer you were relying on. Stranger things have happened; you need to be protected from situations that are outside of your control. 
    While domestic employees in New York are hired “at-will”, meaning you may be terminated without notice or reason at any time, unemployment is there to provide you with a financial buffer while you search for a new job.  If you’re laid off due to no fault of your own, and you are able to work in some industry, you are eligible - even in some instances of justifiable firing, you may still be eligible. This is only available to people who are paid legally in their most recent long-term position.

Even if you are outside of NYS, should you have an injury that leads to a long leave from work, you may be eligible to receive Disability coverage from the government as well. This would cover part of your income, and make sure that you are not in an even larger financial bind.  If you are out of work because of an injury, but don't have traceable or substantial income reported, the income coverage would be significantly lowered, if available at all.

 ​The details and benefits will upgrade year to year, but beginning in 2019,  you would be eligible for 10 weeks paid leave per year, up to 55% of your weekly salary, with a maximum of roughly $746/week; By 2021, 67% of your salary may be covered for up to 12 weeks. This is separate from FMLA, and is specific to New York State. For more information, click here.

      Any employer who chooses to pay their employee 'under the table' runs the risk of being audited, particularly if all parents are working full-time, and they can't prove payments made for childcare. An audit will have their finances called into question by the government, and if your employer is audited, you too may be at risk for your portion of employment taxes. If your employer doesn't remit taxes on your behalf, you may be asked to account for those taxes by the government. While it is not the law that the employers withhold your portion of taxes in New York for you (you must request that they do this, and the majority do when using a payroll service), it is the law that you pay your portion. If it is not withheld, we recommend setting aside a conservative percentage based on your state in a separate savings account so you have enough to pay at the end of the year.
       If you or your employers were to be audited, the government makes a habit of looking back several years, meaning you could be set up on a hefty payment plan to hand over whatever amount you would have owed in taxes from previous years. 

      Should the day come when you want to make a big "life-investment", be it purchasing a new home or car, or even renting a new apartment, you will often be required to provide proof of income; not just for present time, but also from the past two years! Lenders want to make sure you are a consistent earner and responsible spender, and you will need a paper trail to prove your track-record of financial credibility. Cash-employees will often have a difficult (likely impossible) time providing legitimate proof of income that would hold up to scrutiny. This can be a real hold-up, and potential block, if you are in the throes of purchasing a home. 
        Not buying a car, home, or renting an apartment now? Think two or three years ahead. Even if your credit is terrible, First Time Homebuyer Loans make this dream possible for more people, so as home prices continue to rise, now is a great time to get on the books and start accepting legal pay! 

Take it from us, the people who interview many qualified, career candidates who have been paid cash for years: it is very challenging for nannies and housekeeper to leap from a high dollar cash take-home salary per week to a far lower net wage. When you are not used to this, it will require a large lifestyle adjustment for yourself and family, when that time comes.
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     Talking to your employer about transitioning from a cash-salary, to an "on the books" salary is going to take a big shift. Essentially your employer will have to make a drastic increase in your pre-taxed (gross) pay-rate in order for you to be taking home the same amount as you were before, and it's possible that financially, they simply cannot swing it, as they will be paying 12-25% more than they are used to, depending on where you live.

​       If your employer isn't able to increase your rate enough for you to be taking home a net-salary that is comparable to your cash salary, meet in the middle!  Start by taking a lower take-home wage, knowing that they are giving you a gross-wage raise. That being said, employees who are paid on the books, will also be eligible for a tax-return at the end of the fiscal year where you would get a portion of that back, so don't be too demanding of your employers if you really love your job in all other aspects.

        The amount of taxable income which you report to the government each year makes up your 'covered income' and directly affects the amount of money you may receive each month when you retire. In other words, if you pay in for 45 years instead of 10, you will have far more to retire on. Therefore, for your future, it's better to start paying income taxes sooner rather than later! ​

      Finding a boss who is willing to pay you on-the-books, means that your boss is more likely to view you as an employee with certain inalienable rights.  A working agreement that is based on a clear contract and a taxed salary can protect you from various instances of employee discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment in the workplace, withholding of overtime, and various other workplace injustices.
        Many employers who pay cash may hesitate to put anything in writing to avoid a paper trail of employment in the event they were to be audited -- this translates to no work agreement for you or contract for you to fall back on or reference.

      Last of all, paying your taxes is the right thing to do! The money you pay in taxes goes to many places. In addition to paying the salaries of government workers, your tax dollars also help to support common resources that we all utilize, such as safe and well-maintained roads, police and fire departments, post-offices, public libraries and parks, as well as caring for your fellow neighbors and children who presently may not be able to care for themselves.  

        In conclusion, starting a job with mutual professional respect is the best foot to start on. By you and your employer insisting to operate according to the law affirms that this is a true, professional career, with the commitment to integrity and respect toward both parties. 
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But aren't nannies 1099 workers?  On the family/employer side of things, there is sometimes confusion about the classification of domestic employees and who is responsible for their taxes. However, make no mistake: by law, nannies and housekeepers are classified as household employees of the family, unless they are hired through a company who is paying them as an employee; nannies and housekeepers are not contractors. Families must provide you a W-2 at the end of the year.
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Have a question about being paid or hiring "on-the-books" versus in cash? Send us an email and we will do our best to direct you to where you may find your answer. 

     There are few places more magical to spend the weeks leading up to the holidays than right here in NYC. In the weeks in between the spectacular Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and  the world-watched Ball Drop in Times Square, you can find festive family fun and awesome holiday activities around every New York City corner. From tickets to The Nutcracker to Ice-Skating at Rockefeller Center, the possibilities for fun holiday events for kids in NYC can seem never-ending (and frankly exhausting!).
​      But, fear not, we've assembled our own short-list of some lesser-known but equally merry-inducing holiday events for you and your family to check out!

3. Winterfest at the Brooklyn Museum — Friday November 23–Monday December 31

Live music, kosher food, and a giant, hand-carved ice menorah. What's not to love? Join in the biggest Chanukah party in the city! Skate in the beautiful and magical setting of the  Wollman Rink, in the heart of New York City’s Central Park.This annual celebration is a prime example of a holiday season event you need to sign up for ASAP, as it always sells out.
https://chanukahonicenyc.com

​5. Winter Family Fair at The Morgan Library & Museum -- Sun Dec 9, 2018

Have any must-do ideas of your own for 2018 Holiday Events for Kids in NYC?
​Let us know in the comments section below! 

​It’s almost the day of Halloween! And it’s the perfect time to share a spooky activity with the little ones. Before it’s time for trick-or-treating, consider this make-a-monster activity from Personal Creations.

This monster craft just takes a few simple materials: tape or glue, scissors and the printables themselves! The printables come with a variety of parts so kids can customize their monster the way they’d like. Start with the body, then add legs, arms, eyes and a mouth. They also include fun accessories, so the kids can add fun wings or a fancy top hat to their monster. The opportunities for creativity are endless with this craft.

 This activity is best suited for preschoolers to young elementary-level students, but adults are welcome to join in on the fun!