Today’s blog is from
Ron. Right before taking a job in the Email Marketing team at Care.com, Ron
learned that his father had a very aggressive form of brain cancer. Here he
talks about how he helped his mom find someone to help care for his dad –
without having the experience of working for Care.com.
Two summers ago, my mother and I found ourselves desperately
looking for help. My father was ill, and being that I lived a 12-hour plane ride
away, I was home for two weeks to find a caregiver
who could help both my dad and my mom. The irony was that I was about to start
my job at Care.com and was about to learn the hard way how
to hire a caregiver. It turned out
that we didn’t know the first thing about what to look for. We had created a
caregiver profile that was incomplete and wrong. It took a week of interviewing
over a dozen caregivers until we identified our real needs, adding some and dropping others.
So whether you are looking for a babysitter, nanny, tutor,
special needs aide or senior
caregiver, I thought I’d share some of the things Mom and I learned along the
way:
Include
Dad in the Decision Process. This might seem like a no-brainer to you, but
to Mom and me, we thought it was obvious not to bother our patient. But in the
end, we needed to make sure there was a connection between the two people who
would spend the most time together: Dad and his caregiver.
Consider
what the Situation Really Needs. Mom
and Dad didn’t want someone living in the house. It meant sharing a kitchen and
a bathroom and losing some of their personal space. But it turned out that it’s
actually what they needed – and I needed to convince them of that. It took some
getting used to, but my parents learned to accept that some loss of privacy was
worth the peace of mind and necessary support.
Re-think
Your Must-haves. We thought we wanted the caregiver to speak Hebrew (the
main language spoken in my parents’ house), but this need fell to the bottom of
the list as we realized that the combination of a non-smoker and the ability to
lift a 200-pound man became harder to find (along with the medical training and
compassion he could show my father).
Don’t Give
up or Settle. You’re going to meet a lot of people and believe me, as
horrible as it sounds, if you’re in as dire of a situation as my mom and I were
in, you’ll feel like hiring the first "decent" person who walks through the
door. All I can say is don’t. Don’t
settle on decent. Keep interviewing your applicants. If it helps, re-post your
job profile with an updated job description based on what you’ve learned along
the way. You will find someone who is better than "decent." You just have to
keep on trying.
Have you hired a caregiver for
someone in your family? What lessons have you learned along the way?
"Exceptionally alone." That's how Rodican Bonn felt at times when taking care of her 92-year old father, Papa Joe.
As one of three siblings with no children of her own, Bonn moved her father out of an assisted living facility and into a new home for the last years of his life. She also moved to a new neighborhood in East Hartford, CT., to be closer to him. She knew she needed help – and she turned to Care.com.
I have to tell you how I heard Bonn's story. This holiday season, among all the cards from friends and family, there was a card from Bonn, thanking our company for what we do. It floored me. To think that during the stressful holiday season and still mourning the loss of her dad, she took the time to send us a picture of Papa Joe was very humbling. She has since told us more about her experience with Care.com and is letting us share it with you.
To be honest, she didn't find the perfect caregiver right away. But when she called our Member Care department to complain, she was reassured that she could find someone better. "In life, it's so important to be able to say it, have someone to listen and not be judged. Care.com was not going to be able to come into my home and manage the caregiver, but having someone who is willing to listen, that is empowering," Bonn says.
In a short time, Bonn found a new caregiver, Garry, who would dress Papa Joe like his twin -- and another wonderful aide, Michele, who Bonn became friends with on her days off. Suddenly Bonn wasn't so alone in the caregiving process.
Papa Joe has since passed away. And we at Care.com are using this story as our inspiration for helping millions of families just like Bonn's. We knew this was why we were working so hard, but it's a great reminder of the real heartache families are facing – along with the comfort we can provide.
Over the years, we've learned that sometimes the hardest part of finding care is knowing where to start. Because of this, we've launched a senior care referral service to help you get started. You can speak to an advisor by calling 855-490-8652. I hope we can help more families, the way we helped Bonn's.
Last week, I posted Care.com’s 2011 Top 5 Gifts for Caregivers and promised that I'd decode the gift of money this week. We tip waiters with every restaurant meal, but when it comes to our caregivers, we may be a little out of practice when calculating the right monetary "thank you." A spa gift certificate, homemade cupcakes, a tip or a bonus? The truth is that, when you find someone who truly cares for your family, the holidays are a great opportunity to show your gratitude – and ensure that your caregiver happily stays with you throughout the new year. To help determine the right holiday gift, check out the guide below for part two of our holiday celebration for caregivers:
Nannies Provide full-time nannies and au pairs with a holiday bonus – the equivalent of one week's salary.
While this is the standard, if finances are tight this year, consider giving your nanny an extra week to a few days of paid vacation spread out during the following year. Add a homemade gift. Don't forget that generally, nannies do not get paid vacations on the major winter holidays, including Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years. If you ask them to help out on any of these days, be sure to pay time and a half.
Babysitters For babysitters who care for your children on a regular basis, provide a tip – about one or two night's pay. If you want to thank an occasional sitter who helps out on date nights or provides back-up care, send a card with a gift certificate (see last week's post for specific ideas) of about $25.00-$50.00. Again, nice homemade goodies, made with help from the kids, are also a great "thank you."
Special Needs Caregivers Special needs caregivers can play a crucial role in the lives of our children and loved ones. Like nannies, if your special needs caregiver is full-time, provide the one week salary holiday bonus. If he or she visits only occasionally, stick with the one-or-two-visit tipping rule. However, if your caregiver goes the extra mile in caring for your loved one, make sure that your gesture reflects his or her dedication.
Tutors A tip equivalent to one tutoring session is appropriate for tutors who have really made an impact on your child's learning, and I also like to involve my guys in the gift-giving by having them make a thank you card or small gift.
Senior Caregivers If your full-time senior caregiver is employed independently by you and your family, operate under the one-week-salary bonus rule or two weeks for caregivers that have been with your family for multiple years. If he or she is employed through an agency or works at your senior's facility, be sure to check with the management regarding policies on tipping. If you know that the caregiver has really gone out of their way to make your aging parent or loved one as happy and well-cared for as possible, give a little extra – check out The Gift of Relaxation section from last week.
Pet Sitters and Dog Walkers An occasional pet sitter could get a gift card or an equivalent to an extra day's pay. For a dog walker that comes by when you're at work and on a daily basis, provide the typical week's salary as a holiday tip. And if you make regular visits to the groomer, give them a little tip or gift as well.
Housekeepers In general, housekeepers should receive anywhere from 50 percent to 100 percent of their usual weekly fee. Accompany your holiday tip with a nice card or holiday goodies. If you occasionally hire a house cleaner to come in before a house party or a visit from relatives, a tip is nice, but not necessary.
Ultimately, bonuses are greater amounts for full-time caregivers, and tips are a percentage or extra full day’s pay for part-time or occasional caregivers. Whether you choose to give presents, extra paid vacation time, bonuses, or tips this holiday season, ensure that your gift matches your own feelings of gratitude towards the caregivers of your loved ones.
Check out these articles for additional holiday reading:
Every year around the holidays, the Care Team and I notice that families are struggling to find the right gifts for their caregivers. I know from experience – finding that ideal present can be surprisingly difficult. Our caregivers occupy a very special and unique place in our lives. It can be hard to believe that from a simple online profile, they become so much more: our sanity-keepers, peacemakers, stress-relievers, lifesavers, and trusted allies. We call them when there's an emergency. We call them when we need a break. And, every day, we trust them with the most important things in the world: our children, parents, pets, and homes. So how do you say that super-special thank you?
Idea #1: The Gift of Relaxation You know that your caregiver could likely use some relaxation time – because you know exactly the kinds of messes they've been cleaning, the kids they've been running after, and the dogs they've been walking. Spa gift certificates, including pedicures, manicures, massages, and even time at the hair salon, are all great gifts. Stop by your local spa or salon to ask about a gift card or purchase online. A great fit for babysitters, nannies, housekeepers, pet sitters, and senior caregivers.
Idea #2: The Gift of Good Cheer Help your caregiver eat, drink, and be merry with special treats that they wouldn't buy for themselves. I'm partial to gift baskets with a mix of healthy and decadent options, like pears with chocolates. To go even healthier, check out local options, such as farm shares and co-ops for potential veggie deliveries to your caregiver's doorstep during the growing months. For the decadent route, find near-by specialty stores and support your local community with wine or cheese basket gifts for your caregiver.
Idea #3: The Gift of Tech Giving that perfect tech-toy can be a great fit for more than just the younger generation of college caregivers. I know our housekeeper is always plugged into her iPod and favorite playlist. IPod nanos are currently about $129.00, and iPod shuffles are even less: $49.00. If your babysitter is already rocking out with an iPod, consider an iTunes gift card. Another great gift this year is Amazon's Kindle at $79.00. (And just a nerdy techie sidenote: after Black Friday, their latest Kindle Fire tablet, priced at $199.00, is rivaling Apple's $499.00 iPad).
Idea #4: The Gift of Heart Since caregivers can play such uniquely intimate roles in our lives, consider making a homemade gift if you are looking for a more personal way to say "Thank you." Get the kids involved. Visit the local craft store for fun ideas like homemade soap or candle-making kits. Take a great picture of your nanny playing with your kids, and have your little ones help you put together a festive magnetic frame for the fridge or even a beautiful ornament for your caregiver's tree or home. Snap a picture of your dog in a Santa hat - this is also a great idea for pet sitters and dog walkers.
Idea #5: The Gift for the Whole Family Finally, think about giving a gift that your caregiver's entire family will enjoy. If you want to go the food route, don't forget to take any food allergies into consideration. For example, if anyone in your caregiver's family has a gluten allergy, find gluten-free baked goodies, and create a unique food allergy-friendly basket. Buy a subscription to a print or e-magazine, like Living Without for food allergy families or fun kid magazines, like National Geographic Kids. If you have any pics of your caregiver with his or her family, add them to digital picture frame for a great family gift.
As you review these options and try to decide on how much you should spend in time and money, think about your caregiver's relationship with your family. I generally recommend going bigger for nannies, housekeepers, pet caretakers and senior caregivers that have become honorary members of the family. Consider smaller gifts for occasional babysitters, pet sitters, and dog walkers. And of course cash is always welcome, but do you know how much to give? Tune in next week to our article on tipping.
"Are my parents capable of taking care of themselves? Do they... need help?"
For adult children, these questions can trigger intense feelings of sadness and confusion – feelings I faced for the first time about 10 years ago, when my father suddenly needed quadruple by-pass surgery. While hazily trying to function within a cloud of stress and worry, I realized for the first time that my parents are not invincible. And at some point – either now or in the future – caregiving roles will shift. I may eventually be the one responsible for their care and well-being. While I truly believe it is an honor to be able to give back to my parents, it is not an easy mental transition to make.
As we celebrate the holiday season, we often spend more time with family and relatives than our usual schedules allow. Looking around the festive dinner table, many adult children suddenly recognize their loved one is growing more vulnerable with age and subtle signs lead to big questions. Spoiled food in the fridge. Lapses in short or long term memory. Hot burners left on.
"Is Dad showing signs of Alzheimer's?" "Do I need to take the car keys away from Mom? "Are these warning signs that my parent needs help?"
Since I know that many families will face these questions over the coming weeks, I wanted to share some tips from our senior care expert and licensed clinical social worker, Jody Gastfriend. Jody's own moment of sad recognition occurred 15 years ago, when her father simply wandered away from a holiday gathering and was eventually diagnosed with dementia. Inspired by her parents' strength and personal family caregiving experience, Jody offers the following tips from 25 years of working within the senior care field:
Tip #1: Communicate concerns with empathy and respect It is important to balance your concerns with an appreciation of your parent's need for autonomy and control. Parents may feel overwhelmed from fears of losing independence and react negatively to concerns expressed by their children. Jody recommends starting the conversation by exploring your parent's perceptions and needs to gain a better understanding of what is most important to them, before introducing suggestions for long term care.
Tip #2: Join forces. If possible, speak with your siblings before the visit with your parents. Have they noticed any changes, particularly those that reflect a shift in your parent's baseline level of functioning? Together, formulate a plan to move forward. When you do talk to your parents, Jody says it is important to communicate as a united front. Stay focused on your parent's wellbeing and avoid getting stirred up by unresolved family conflicts.
Tip #3: Do the research. Now that you've formed a team, ask everyone to do a little investigating. What local resources are available? Find out the costs and types of care that may be the right fit for your parent.
Tip #4: Consult a professional. After you've armed yourself with the knowledge of the local options, talk to an expert. A medical diagnosis is important. And, if you are afraid that a parent is showing signs of Alzheimer's, get him or her evaluated for Alzheimer's Disease or dementia. Likewise, if you are unsure whether your parent qualifies for Medicaid, talk to a elder law attorney in the same state as your parent. A geriatric care manager, such as a nurse or social worker, can help with many aspects of the caregiving process.
Tip #5: Have a constructive, patient conversation. Hold a family meeting or speak with your parent one-on-one, whichever is more feasible for your family. Open and ongoing communication is necessary to meet the changing needs of your loved ones as they age. Unless your parents are deemed mentally incompetent or a danger to others, it is their right to make their own decisions-even bad ones. The best approach is to practice understanding and compassion in getting your message across. Even humor can be effective at times.
Being proactive and communicating collaboratively with parents and siblings to create a plan will likely yield the best results in the long run.
If you are caring for an aging parent, when did you first realize that he or she needed care? How did you talk to your parent about your concerns? If you are currently worried that your parent may need care, check out our senior care counseling service to talk with licensed social workers about your family's specific needs.
A 2011 Care.com Guest Writer Contest, hosted on my blog, asked all promising scribes to tell us about themselves and their families. Selecting this winner proved to be an incredibly difficult process – there are so many parents with such moving and inspirational stories! Our panel of judges finally narrowed the selection down to two mothers, Valerie and Kelsey. Both told their life stories with intense passion and heart wrenching honesty. Both are potentially facing the greatest challenges of their lives. And we had no choice but to choose both as the winners of our contest.
Meet Valerie
For this blog post, I’d like to introduce you to Valerie, from Ohio: writer, wife, daughter, and mother of two. Over the past year, Valerie has been facing a reality that increasing numbers of Americans share. At the same time that she and her husband were balancing work with caring for their two children (ages 4 and 6), Valerie’s father grew sick, and she became his main caregiver. About four months ago, her father passed away, and she has since continued to care for her mother, who has moved to an independent living apartment. To understand how she got through such a tough time in her life and continues to balance care for her children and her mom, the Care Team and I asked her to share some insights into what it's like to be caught in the middle:
What has been the most stressful part about caring for your mom while still caring for your young kids?
Feeling guilty all the time – feeling guilty that I’m schlepping my four-year-old to mom’s doctor appointments and guilty when mom calls to chat and I am trying to get dinner on the table with the kids vying for attention.
What was the hardest aspect of explaining your dad’s passing to your kids?
We were lucky in some ways because the kids were so young that while they understood, they were both too young to feel the pain of grief. I’m so glad they didn’t have to experience the pain. That would have been really hard.
In what ways are you still struggling with the loss?
Because I was the main caregiver for my dad throughout his treatment, I still relive many of those moments we shared: driving to doctor appointments, sitting through chemo and watching his pain escalate as he slipped away that last day. These flashbacks are still so vivid.
What is the best thing someone can do for a friend who has lost a parent?
Be there. Call. Show up with dinner. Take the kids for a while. Don’t just offer to help. Show up and help. One of my dearest friends, who lives four hours away, drove up the day after dad died and stayed for a night, just to help out with whatever. I am still so deeply touched by her caring enough to be there.
What do you look for when hiring a caregiver for your family?
In this day and age, we all have to be cautious. Background checks and reference checks are so important. But ultimately, I think hiring someone to care for my family comes down to a feeling that it is right. Call it Mom’s intuition, you know when it’s right and you know when it’s not. That inner voice has been my strongest guide.
How do you create time for yourself?
I workout. Well, I did until I broke my leg running on September 1. Yes, in addition to all this, I will be wearing the Aircast for two more weeks. Thankfully, I broke my left leg, not my right, so I am still able to drive and walk without crutches. Before the broken leg, I would hit the gym 4 or 5 times a week with my girlfriend. We’d jump on the elliptical trainers and gossip for 45 minutes. Throughout this year there have been many tears on that elliptical, but it’s been good therapy for me. I can’t wait to get back to the gym.
What advice can you offer parents new to the Sandwich Generation?
Take it one day at a time, but that’s been my advice since having kids. Ask me again when this phase of life is through. I’m sure I’ll have great advice then.
Next week, meet our other contest winner, Kelsey: “Yes, I am a single mother. Yes, I am a college student. Yes, I am that waitress who brought out your steak dinners and scrubbed down the table when you left.” Stay tuned.
Whether you’ve hired a nanny, dog walker, or housekeeper, you are now a manager. If you are currently navigating your way through the intense process of posting a job, interviewing prospective caregivers, calling references, and requesting background checks, you soon will become one.
As the Care.com Management Team and I know on a daily basis, being a manager is not nearly as easy as it may appear at first glance. We have to constantly work at ensuring that the perfect balance is met; that our employees have the right tools and motivation to do their jobs to the best of their ability.
As the manager of caregivers, your workspace is your home. Not only are you relying on your employees to give 100% at their job, but you are trusting them with your children, your pets or your home. It is important to acknowledge that this trust amplifies the significance of your relationship. Here are the top 10 tips in managing your care provider that we've gathered from our parenting experts to keep your family and your provider happy and running smoothly:
Make a Contract. Signing a contract requires both you and your caregiver to agree to specified terms. Expectations are set and clear. You are also protected from a legal standpoint. For more information, check out this article on Nanny Contracts.
Write Out a Schedule. In addition to the bigger picture expectations that you outline in the contract, write out a schedule for your caregiver to refer to throughout the day. It can be a loose outline or an itemized To-Do list – whatever works best for you and the caregiver. Feel free to use this example of a Housekeeping Checklist.
Build Trust. When you welcome someone into your home, you are trusting them to treat you, your family, and your house with respect. Give your caregiver the same respect. Don’t forget to ask your caregiver about their life outside your walls! It will go a long way. Take a look at what our mom blogger, Ellen Seidman, has to say about having a great relationship with your nanny.
Set Boundaries. At the same time that you show respect, it is also crucial that you set boundaries. Make sure your caregiver understands his or her job parameters. If you don’t want your housekeeper doing your laundry, make it clear.
Check Your Gut Reactions. Conflicts will arise in any workplace. Before you react to a problem, try to take a moment and breathe. When you decide to address the issue with your caregiver, remember that his or her intentions were likely good, and your goal is simply to ensure that the problem does not continue to occur.
Celebrate the Victories. When your caregiver helps your child to get an A on a big test or your dog walker teaches your pup a new trick, celebrate! Let the tutor or the pet sitter know that you really appreciate his or her work with a little gift or even just kind words – these small gestures can really mean a lot.
Check In with Your Caregiver. On a regular basis, once a week or once a month – whatever works best with your schedules – take the time to meet with your caregiver. At Care.com, we call these one-on-ones. It gives you both a chance to talk about what’s working, what can be fixed, and how things are generally going.
Stay Connected. Open the lines of communication by encouraging your caregiver to text you with little updates throughout the day. Our Editor-in-Chief, Wendy Sachs, loves the banter that “ranges from utilitarian to insightful.” If texting or e-mailing isn’t your style, have a community whiteboard or leave little notes.
Give Vacation Days, Sick Time and Tips. If you have a steady dog walker or housekeeper, be sure to remember them around the winter holidays with a homemade goodies or a little extra bonus. For employees that work full-time, like a nanny, it is important to also provide paid sick time and vacation days. Check out these articles: Etiquette Experts Say People Should Tip Service Providers and Tipping Points – Give or Yule Be Sorry!
Say Thank You. Don’t forget to say thank you. While you do have a business relationship, nannies and employees who work in your home have a special window into your life, which can bring you closer together than office interactions. Acknowledge this by being respectful and giving thanks.
Last week I wrote about the guilt of working parents and introduced this survey below. If you haven't yet had a chance, I would love to hear from you. This information helps us to provide you with a great Care.com experience.
I’ve been asking myself that lately. And, in fact, we’ve discussed that very question in detail at Care.com. We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to help your family run smoothly and stay happy.
Can a website help bring you happiness? We hope so and would love to earn your trust by delivering a service that meets your most heartfelt needs and gives you the support to to thrive and be happy.
Tell me, what does happiness mean to your family? Post a comment below and let me know!
Happiness is family. For us, happiness starts in the home. As parents, Ron and I pour heart and soul into our two boys. They are our greatest treasure. We work to provide for their needs, carve out time to make memories together, and support them as they pursue their dreams.
Looking ahead, when the time comes for us to care for our parents, we want to give them the best care possible.
The connections we have between family and loved ones bring meaning to our lives.
“All else being equal, happy people have better relationships, are more likely to thrive at work, and also live better and longer,” says Tal Ben-Shahar, Harvard professor in his excellent book Happier. “Happiness is a worthwhile pursuit, whether as an end in itself or as a means toward other ends.”
“The condition that is said to trump all others in importance is the strength and number of a person’s relationships,” writes Jonathan Haidt in the best-seller The Happiness Hypothesis. “Good relationships make people happy, and happy people enjoy more and better relationships than unhappy people.” Happiness is taking care of yourself. It isn’t always easy taking care of our families. There have been a slew of recent stories about parenting and happiness. And, if you go by the statistics, things don’t look very upbeat. In fact, I just read a feature in New York Magazine, “All Joy and No Fun: Why Parents Hate Parenting,” that went into detail on recent studies that indicate having children doesn’t increase parents’ overall sense of happiness (the numbers don’t necessarily say it goes down, either).
Whether it’s providing care for your children or looking after elderly relatives, caregiving isn’t an easy task (just ask Clare Maklan who shared her personal story of balancing work and caregiving at the first-ever Care Summit). However, it is something we do out of love.
But we often find we can’t do it alone. Years ago, when my dad had emergency heart surgery and I had to find care for both him and our boys, I knew I needed help! It’s okay to reach out when you need a hand. Nowadays, it’s all about building a strong support network to help care for your family. You can’t do it by yourself and you aren’t alone.
That’s why Care.com is here. Our goal at Care.com is to provide moms, parents, daughters, and other caregivers the support they need so they can also find time for themselves. After all, happiness is taking care of yourself, too. Happiness is time. In a world where you’re juggling email, texting, answering phone calls, and checking day planners while simultaneously shuffling the kids off to school and getting yourself out the door in the morning, we need time for being and not just doing. And we need it now more than ever. We need time to pursue the things in life that bring fulfillment and purpose, whether that’s time with your family or following your passions.
In our family, that means Ron and I actively find ways to spend time with each other doing something we enjoy like gardening or going on a family bike ride. We love to attend our sons’ sports games, encourage our children to participate in community theater and we take great pleasure in watching our youngest son pursue his love of singing with a local children’s chorus. Happiness is also pursuing meaning and purpose. We’re a service started by parents who want to help other parents. I’m a working mom, so I know how challenging it can be to establish work/life balance. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that we are a team who truly cares about our members and is able to help the hundreds of thousands of families that we do each month.
Here’s a link to the “About Us” section of Care.com where you’ll learn more about the great group of people I work with. And we also have a neat group called the Mom Force. It’s a team of stay-at-home moms who work with us on safety and member care issues. They do a great job reviewing every profile and job post before we publish them, helping us keep our service safe and secure.
At Care.com, we are spending more time reading about the science of happiness (one of my favorites just came out—Tony Hsieh’s Delivering Happiness), talking about what it means to be happy, and discussing what we can do together to build a great culture and better company. It takes happy employees to deliver you an exceptional service.
We’re spending all this time talking and thinking about happiness because it’s so important to what we do at Care.com. We’re here to help happy families run. That mission starts in our own homes and reaches to every part of the service we offer.
We know what it’s like to be a parent. We know that sinking feeling where you feel trapped between work and your kids. When that happens and you need help the most to find balance and happiness, we want to be there for you. This is all about families helping families—the Care.com family helping you find great care because when you have fabulous care, well, then you can be happy. :-)
Wendy Sachs is the new editor-in-chief of Care.com and the author of How She Does It—a book about successful stay-at-work moms. This week, I’ve asked Wendy to write about a growing movement that seeks to provide our nannies and senior care providers with much-needed support and protection. These trusted caregivers look after our children and loved ones. It’s time they were taken care of, as well!
We’ve all been there. Your baby cries on your shoulder just as you’re leaving for the office. Your toddler tugs on your pant leg pleading with you to take off your heels and pretty please not go to work today. The guilt can feel like a knife in the gut. But millions of moms and dads are able to continue to pay the bills and thrive in our careers because of the dedicated and committed work of caregivers across the country with whom we entrust our children.
Shockingly, there is no federal protection regulating work hours, sick leave or vacation time for nannies, housekeepers or senior care providers. But in the state of New York that may be about to change.
If signed by Governor Paterson, a New York law will protect the estimated 200,000 domestic workers in the New York metropolitan area alone, including nannies, senior care providers, and housekeepers—those here legally and illegally alike. This first of its kind, this Bill of Rights for caregivers and housekeepers will protect many who have historically been exempt from the labor laws that protect most American workers. The law would guarantee a half dozen national holidays, five days vacation, and seven sick days annually, all paid, plus overtime compensation and at least one day off weekly.
The bill will not only empower caregivers (who are overwhelmingly women) but also give a guide to their employers on compensation and expectations. Open, honest communication between nannies and the moms/dads who employ them is critical for job satisfaction, loyalty, and retention. While most families are diligent about paying fair wages and creating a healthy and respectful work environment for their caregivers, the reality is that some nannies and sitters feel taken for granted and even sometimes exploited. Having no real guidebook to follow as far as “nannyquette” goes, parents are often shocked to learn that they are treating a caregiver unfairly.
While some in New York bristle at the proposed new law that may cost additional money and hassle to pay overtime and vacation, I think it’s long overdue to finally have labor protection for our most valuable employees—our children’s caregivers.
I applaud New York in taking a lead on protecting those legions of hard working nannies and sitters who make it feasible for many of us to go to work with a clear conscience and a less heavy heart. It’s time for the country to extend protection to all domestic workers. They should not be vulnerable any longer.
Don’t you just love showing off a new outfit or hairstyle? I think that’s half the fun of going shopping or visiting the hairdresser in the first place!
Well, it’s the same thing with Care.com: we have a new look and we want you to check it out!
We’ve worked behind the scenes for a long time to give Care.com a new ‘do. But it’s more than a makeover—we’ve redesigned our site to make it easier to find the care you need for children, adults & seniors, pets, and home. Come take a look!
New Categories The main thing you’ll notice about the site is that we have four new tabs on the top, left-hand side of the page: Children, Adults & Seniors, Pets, and Home & Lifestyle. We’ve divided the categories by the four main types of care members search for on Care.com.
New Ways to Search for Care If you’re a parent looking for child care, we’re helping you get started by letting you search for the specific type of care provider you’re looking for: babysitters, nannies, special needs care, au pairs, summer care, tutors, and day cares. You’ll find all of these options right on the “Children” tab.
The same goes for families in need of adult or senior care. You can find specific types of providers like those with special needs training or tutors and teachers in the “Adults & Seniors” category.
As always, posting a job is still the easiest way for you to find the care you need. It’s free, too!
Where is…? Special Needs and Tutoring & Lessons If you’re looking for our special needs service or tutoring and lessons, we’ve split those categories into two age groups and now offer them specifically for children or adults. If you’re a member looking for help in either of those categories, we’ve made your search easier by specifying what types of care you’re looking for from the very beginning.
To find a specific special needs service, just hover your mouse over the Children or Adults & Seniors tab and select the option you need. The same goes for tutors, too!
Housekeeping & Care Gigs We created a new category of service called “Home & Lifestyle.” Here, you’ll find our housekeeping service, as well as our Care Gigs category which helps you find personal assistants, errand runners, shoppers, and more!
Care-on-Call If you’re looking for last-minute babysitters, special needs care, in-home senior care, or pet sitters, then you need Care-on-Call! You’ll be able to broadcast your needs to local care providers within seconds. You can still access Care-on-Call by visiting www.care.com/careoncall or via the drop down menus.
Care Exchange Looking to trade child care or pet sitting services with another Care.com member? You can post ads listing your needs or connect with local families through Care Exchange. You’ll find Care Exchange in the Children or the Pets tabs or by clicking www.care.com/careexchange.
Articles & Resources We have loads of resources for your family from our babysitter pay calculator to educational articles on caregiving. You’ll still find those areas of our site by checking out each of the categories and clicking “Articles & Resources.”
So what do you think about our new look? I’d love to hear your feedback, so leave a comment. Post any questions you have, too! We’ll have our Member Care team respond ASAP.
