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:
Ho Ho Ho… How Much? Holiday Tipping Tips from Ettiquette Experts
Holiday Tipping: A Holiday Bonus Guide for Your Caregivers
Holiday Recipes Your Kids Will Actually Eat
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December 12, 2011
December 05, 2011
Care.com's 2011 Top 5 Gifts for Caregivers
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.
Check out these articles for additional reading:
Holiday Tipping
Holiday Bonus Guide
Outsource Your Holiday Stress
May 09, 2011
I, Like So Many Others, “Love that Max”
Mommy blogger Ellen Seidman’s blog, Love that Max, has developed a large following of devoted readers. With every post, I find myself moved beyond words – either because she makes me laugh out loud or she moves me to tears. For those who don’t know, Ellen writes about her son, Max and his struggles with cerebral palsy. As Ellen writes, “Cerebral palsy has not defined his life.” Through her eloquent yet honest words, and by Max just being Max, I continue to learn about the unique challenges that face special needs families.
We have been incredibly privileged to have Ellen join our team of contributors, and I asked her to tell us about how she finds trustworthy care for her little ones, Max and Sabrina:
In the search to find qualified babysitters or care providers for Max and Sabrina, do you have any interviewing or screening tricks that you use to ensure they meet your family’s needs?
When I've screened sitters over the years, I've been very upfront with them about Max's needs—I spare them no details! He has cerebral palsy, and needs help with everything from feeding to toileting. I want to make sure they understand what is involved and feel comfortable with that. I also ask them to share an example or two of challenges they've handled when they've been babysitters. Once I think someone is good, I'll hire her for a "test" babysit; I'll pay her to come in for an afternoon so I can see how she interacts with the kids. You can't glean things like patience and creativity from an interview; you have to see how sitters interact with the kids.
What is your favorite go-to activity to keep Max and Sabrina occupied while you write your blog?
I make it a policy to never blog when they are around. This is why I typically post late at night--I do the blog after they go to sleep. That's not to say I'm not guilty of Tweeting when they're around or checking out Facebook!
Would you ever use a “nanny cam” or any other kind of video surveillance to monitor your kids and their child care providers?
I have never felt the need. By the time I hire someone, I'm comfortable with the person, and I've done my research, checking multiple references and background. I trust who I hire, and want them to feel trusted.
How do you talk about Max’s disability with Sabrina? What kind of questions does she ask?
Sabrina has asked several times what happened to Max. I've explained to her that he has cerebral palsy because his head was hurt when he was born and that, as a result, it can take him longer to do things, or he does things in a different way--but he still does them. That last part is important for her to understand; I want her to grow up knowing that even though Max may seem different from other kids, in many ways, he is like other kids. He loves to play, laugh and have fun, just like they do. This something I want the world to know about kids with special needs; they are still kids at heart, no matter how they look or act.
What is the #1 most helpful bit of advice you can offer to fellow special needs parents looking for a babysitter and a break?
Don't feel guilty about getting out; you not only deserve that break, you need it. It will make you a better mother. Spend time looking for a sitter you truly feel comfortable with and you will have no regrets when you go out.
Thank you, Ellen, for sharing your story, each blog post at a time. Readers, do you have a special needs family? Are you able to get that much needed break? Leave a comment for Ellen and me, and check out her blog: Love that Max!
February 28, 2011
CEO’s 10 Tips for Managing Your Caregiver
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.
February 08, 2011
Calling for Back-up: When to Hire a Tutor
You don’t have to look at the results to last week’s “Are You a Competitive Parent?” quiz to know that we parents are doing everything we can to ensure our children’s success. And it seems like this passion for our children’s futures is increasingly focused on their education. At Care.com, over the past two years, parents have started using academic-related keywords, like homework, 25% more frequently in their job posts. This means a quarter more parents today are including homework in their caregiver’s job description than they did in 2009.
I'll admit, I am a stickler when it comes to homework. Every parent wants to make sure her children have all that they need to succeed and excel in the world. I know I do. As a young mother in college and later in graduate school, I would wake up at 3 a.m. so that I could do homework before my older son Ryan woke up.
When my boys were young, I supplemented their school homework with a curriculum I created from various educational resources, including writing exercises and Singapore Math workbooks. I called them “blue sheets” since I didn’t like the word “work.” I emphasized that they were fun and always planned a variety of activities for the week on blue pieces of paper, tailoring them to what I felt was appropriate for their individual needs. Believe me, I took ribbing for them from friends who thought I was the uber-extreme mom.
When Ryan was found to have ADHD, I realized that I couldn’t keep up the rigorous academic schedule I’d been pursuing. Trying to get Ryan to do his homework often left us at odds, and I came to realize he needed special help that I couldn’t provide. My boys needed me as a supportive mom, not another teacher. I still expect great things from my sons - and encourage them to excel in everything that they do - but for everyone's sake, I've learned my limits.
For most parents, we don't always have time to tutor our kids, particularly if they start having difficulty in school and begin to fall behind. While it's tempting to relearn calculus in order to help your child succeed, it's equally important for parents to know that there is help – and options – both for you and your kids. The realization that it's okay to seek help can be a breakthrough and a relief.
As I've mentioned earlier, I’m always evolving my parenting style. Tutoring – or homework help – no longer feels like an indulgence of competitive parents but rather a necessity in order for our kids to compete successfully now so they can be prepared for the future.
Whether it's a belief – or hope – that a child will catch up, most parents wait too long before getting their kids the academic help that they need. For me, it was my own drive to do it all, and Ryan's increased resistance, that enabled me to seek help elsewhere. Good tutoring can be the safety net your family needs and get your child back on track.
I've found that by creating an environment where I encourage interest, my sons don't need pressure. When Adam learned from his singing coach that he could be the best treble in the country, I saw a new sense of determination and excitement in his face that I could never achieve with one of my former "blue sheets."
If my story seems a little too familiar, consider the following options:
Find a tutoring program near you
Find a tutor with experience in ADHD or special needs
Check out these articles and resources for additional tips:
Working with Teachers for Better Tutoring Results
Tutoring Worksheet for Your Caregiver
ADHD: What Parents Need to Know
Have you hired a tutor? What was your experience? Would you recommend that other parents hire a tutor for their kids? Post a comment and share your own family’s story.
May 10, 2010
Care.com’s New Look – Our Site Redesign
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.
As always, posting a job is still the easiest way for you to find the care you need. It’s free, too!
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.
November 30, 2009
The Pressures of Providing Special Needs Care
There are over 20 million families in the United States who have a loved one with special needs, and that number is growing. For example, the number of reported cases of autism (one of the most common disorders) has doubled in the last five years. Other conditions like Down syndrome, Fragile X, and cerebral palsy are also on the rise.
Families with a child or loved one with special needs know firsthand how difficult it can be to find the right care arrangements. On average, they pay more for care, take longer to find providers, and experience twice the amount of care crises each year.
We founded the State of Care Index to shed light on the difficulties special needs families face. In our most recent report, we’ve highlighted the struggles these parents go through while searching for care.
Cost—Money Matters
One Care.com member told us, “The biggest challenge is the cost. We rely on one income. Babysitters for children with special needs cost as much as my husband’s wage. We really never have a babysitter because of it.”
The State of Care Index found that families with children with special needs pay 45% more per hour of child care. That’s a huge burden. Families, on average, pay $12,445 a year for child care (that’s 14 percent of their annual income), but those with children with special needs often pay more. This puts stress on the family budget and adds even more pressure on parents to provide.
Special Needs—Special Training
Parents of children with special needs desperately want them to be cared for by trained, experienced professionals. In our survey for the State of Care Index, we asked parents to rank the top three factors they look for when selecting caregivers. We found that “special needs training” ranks first, even about other criteria like cost or First Aid training. And yet, it can be very difficult for parents to find care providers who have this kind of specialized training.
“Parents of special needs children face greater day care obstacles because a lot of day cares do not have staff with proper training,” said one parent we surveyed.
Another parent echoes the sentiment, “The biggest challenge is finding someone who is willing and competent to provide care for two children with special needs. We have never been successful in maintaining placements for my kids in child care centers or child care in someone else’s home due to my children’s behaviors and high needs. Child care staffers are not well-trained although they are well-intentioned."
Work Impact—It Takes Time
In the July edition of the State of Care Index, we focused on the overall cost of care. In the November edition of the State of Care Index, we asked parents to talk about the impact their caregiving responsibilities have on their jobs and careers.
Not surprisingly, special needs families reported caregiving had a great impact on their work. On average, they experienced 11 care crises each year—twice the amount of other families. Overwhelmingly, parents solved these care crises (where a child fell ill or acted out) by either adjusting their work schedules or missing work altogether.
We also discovered that parents of children with special needs take more time to find care providers. Nearly 40 percent of these parents take more than 12 hours to research and interview new babysitters, nannies, or child care centers.
“The biggest challenge is the amount of time it takes to interview, select, and hire a caregiver,” said one parent.
It was sad to hear (and completely understandable), but 64 percent of parents in special needs families believed their caregiving responsibilities had negatively impacted their work performance.
When I started Care.com, I wanted to make it easy for families to connect with the caregivers they need. We launched our special needs service almost exactly one year ago. I’m happy to say today that we’re currently helping tens of thousands of families across the country find the often-elusive care they need for their children and relatives with special needs.
If you’re a parent of a child with special needs, I’d love to hear about the challenges your family faces when finding care. What advice do you have for other parents in similar situations? Leave a comment to share with the Care.com community.
November 09, 2009
Who's Your Care Hero?
For me, that has to be Ron—he’s such a great coach, handles so much of the daily shuffle, and is a terrific role model for both our boys. I try to thank him often for everything he does for me, Ryan, and Adam, but I also want to also let him know today that he’s my Care Hero.
In celebration of National Family Caregiver Month, we’re giving you the chance to honor the heroes in your life. These are the family members, babysitters, nannies, senior caregivers, pet sitters, and teachers who make our lives easier! Nominate a caregiver and they could win a $500 Care Package (And you can win “thank you” prizes for entering them, too!). We want to hear stories about the people in your life who go to great lengths every day for those they love or work for.
Through the rest of November, visit Care.com on Facebook, post a photo of a caregiver and write a few words on why they’ve been a Care Hero to you and your family. Then get your friends involved—their comments on your nominee’s photo will help them win the contest!
At the end of each week, we’ll choose a Care Hero finalist. Each finalist will win a $100 restaurant gift certificate and whoever nominated them receives a 3-month subscription to Care.com.
On December 1, we’ll choose an overall winner and name them the 2009 Care.com Care Hero. The winning caregiver will receive a $500 “Care Package” including hotel stay, tickets to a show, and dinner on us. As a thank you, we’ll also give the nominator a $100 restaurant gift certificate to show our appreciation.
Say thank you to the special caregiver in your life! Nominate them to be the 2010 Care.com Care Hero! You can enter your caregivers and see all the entries on the Care.com Facebook Page.
April 13, 2009
Stopping the R-Word
December 09, 2008
Special Needs Service on Care.com
A few months ago, I took a
trip to
I have a 28-year-old cousin
who has autism, so Aileen's passion really hit home with me. Our family has
also been fortunate to have trusted caregivers for Perico, and it's been my
dream to help the many other families in need of great care for their special
loved ones.
Today, that dream comes true. I'm happy to announce the launch of the Care.com Special Needs service. If you're one of thousands looking for quality caregivers who are experienced and attuned to your loved ones' unique needs, then I encourage you to check out this new feature and post a job to let area providers know you have an opening. Although this is a new feature, we already list many caregivers and their numbers are growing daily!
PS – We've also added a brand new "My Care.com Homepage," to make your care search even easier. Celeste, from our Membercare team, has put together this video presentation to walk you through all the new features. Take a look!
adlobs_sheila
- Great care starts
with a conversation.Premium Members can:- Send and receive messages
- Access background checks
- View references and reviews
Search Sheila's Blog:
Best of the Blog
- When to Work, When to Stay Home?
Does it make sense (cents?) to work or stay home? - You're Fired
When is it time to fire your care provider? - Homemade Cold Remedies
Fight the flu at home - Advice for Online Safety
Help kids practice "safe surfing" - Interview with a Manny
Hear from a real-life manny
