AbsolutelyNannies.com consulted with Kathleen Webb, a recognized nanny employment expert. Ms. Webb advises that a good nanny/family agreement must include the following:

• Days and hours of employment.
• Salary: This will include pay rate and frequency, treatment of overtime, and treatment of taxes. Schedule for performance reviews should be included.
• Duties: It is recommended that childcare duties and housekeeping duties (if any) be separately noted. It is further recommended that priorities be articulated to avoid conflicts.
• Emergency Instructions: In the event of an emergency who should be contacted first, second, etc. Further state any medically important information about the children. A separate emergency contact form should be developed that the nanny can keep in her purse, family and personal automobiles, etc. (Sample here)
• Automobile Policies: There will be different considerations if the nanny uses the family vehicle or if the nanny uses her personal vehicle to carpool children for work. Nanny is entitled to appropriate mileage reimbursement for their use of her personal vehicle for work. Safety statement regarding seating arrangements, car seats, seat belts, etc. should always be made.
• Benefits Offered: Most nannies receive 5 - 10 paid vacation/sick/personal days per year and paid Federal Holidays. Many families share to cost of the nanny's medical insurance. Nanny should be paid for every day she is scheduled to work, even if you choose not to have her work on any particular day (you leave for a long weekend for example). When the nanny receives 10 or more vacation/sick/personal days, families often specify that 5 of the nanny's paid days be coordinated to correspond with the family vacation.
• House Rules: These can apply to live in and live out nannies. Phone privileges, guests during working hours, computer use, smoking and alcohol use are all reasonable items to memorialize in this agreement.
• Termination: How much notice is requested of each party? Pay in lieu of notice? Termination for cause? These should be all thought through and articulated.
• Confidentiality: This isn't just for celebrities. Family financial, legal, career and interpersonal relationship matters should remain within the family.

 Sample Work Agreement

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