Letter from the Editor

They say it every year, but the rush of the holidays certainly seems to have arrived earlier than ever! That being said, this is a great season for new beginnings, a celebration of tradition, and seasonal fun for the entire family.

Speaking of celebrations… You may have noticed this with the last issue, but we’re extremely excited to present this newsletter in a revamped form, with a brand-new design. Our goal is to fill it with content for everyone, including families, nannies, and agencies. We hope you enjoy it! (If for any reason it’s not for you, however, simply click to unsubscribe.)

And now, on to this month’s edition of Nanny News!

Nanny Agencies Go Online: New Tools, Big Results

Matching the right nanny with the right family is what separates the successful agencies from the also-rans.  But with the growth of numerous online nanny registration sites, many would-be employers are bypassing nanny agencies in the hopes that they can do the job themselves

The question is: How do nanny placement agencies compete with these potential competitors?
The answer actually lies in the old adage: If you can’t beat them, join them.  Online nanny registration sites such as www.nannyclassifieds.com, are actually helping agencies place more nannies and find more parents looking for help in securing dependable child care.

Listings, Listings, Listings

The first step, of course, is finding eligible nannies. Many nanny agencies conduct their search via multiple media – including newspaper ads, listings on their own websites, college and community job boards, and more. Lately, however, more and more agencies have been expanding the ways in which they use the Internet both to market their nannies and to find them.

NannyClassifieds.com, for example, has recently reported that an increasing number of agencies are signing up for their services in order to supplement their recruiting activities.

“Some agencies see it as competition – but it’s not really competition,” says Alicia Torchia, a Placement Consultant with Careful Caregivers in Skillman, NJ.

Why? It’s all about specialization. “Only so many caregivers will fit a certain position,” Torchia explains. “With NannyClassifieds.com, I can specify on my profile exactly what I’m looking for in terms of experience.”

Merrilan Kougias from Choose the Right Nanny in McKinney, TX also makes online recruitment a part of her greater recruitment plan, one which includes numerous media and methods.

“We began with just a website, but quickly learned that you have to ‘drive’ clients to your location,” Kougias says. “We began utilizing Web-enhancement tools like Google very soon after and Nanny Classifieds over a year ago. We like how we can put in our own selection criteria… Every morning we have new resumes in our e-mail to review!”

Especially when serving families with very specific criteria, an online search allows agencies to post openings based on those particular needs. The result is a more qualified candidate pool and a much greater chance for a successful match.

“There are many days when we will have 10 resumes or more,” Kougias says. “Not all of the candidates will meet our criteria, but the way I figure it, if even one does, and we are able to place that candidate, then my advertising dollars for that month have been well spent.”

To assist agencies in meeting their recruitment goals, NannyClassifieds makes it easy to post targeted ads, whether one’s market is regional or national. Agencies can post up to four ads at a time, have unlimited access to nanny contact information, and receive notifications each time a nanny signs up in their area.

Of course, good old-fashioned word-of-mouth is important, too.

“I can't tell you the number of times that I have been standing in a line at the grocery store or the post office and people will notice my name tag and ask what it is I do,” says Kougias. “It isn't uncommon for me to hand out several cards to people who are interested in becoming a nanny or better yet, they are in the process of searching for a nanny!”

In today’s marketplace, an integrated marketing plan is the surest path to success.

Dollars and Sense:
Overtime Pay Requirements for Nannies

In a recent blog post on The Nanny Buzz, an important issue was raised that every family should be aware of. Although nannies are in a unique occupation – indeed, some are practically family members – federal law still governs their pay, which includes overtime.

One family found themselves in a complicated legal situation as a result of confusion over this issue, and Breedlove and Associates weighed in on the Nanny Buzz with advice every family needs to know. Want to learn more about nanny pay requirements? Have questions or comments?

Ask the Experts

At NannyClassifieds and 4EverythingNanny, we’re here to help with everything related to the nanny profession. To help us reach that goal, we’ve assembled an expert panel to answer all of your questions – whatever they may be.

Recently, a question was raised about unemployment withholdings in nanny paychecks. (It seems that many families are seeking advice on pay-related issues, which can sometimes be complicated.) Here’s what we found out:

Q: Do we have to pay/withhold FUTA and SUTA from the Nanny's paycheck?
A: In 2007, household employers must pay FUTA, the federal unemployment tax, for the first $7,000 paid to each household employee per year.  However, this is a tax paid by the employer and should not be deducted from the employee's paycheck.  
 
SUTA, or state unemployment tax, varies by state.  In California, for example, the employer pays the SUTA and, like the FUTA, (in California at least) this tax should not be deducted from the employee's paycheck.
 
California household employers can feel free to contact Legally Nanny (www.legallynanny.com) for more information regarding their legal and tax responsibilities and a free initial consultation.