Should I give my Self Employed Childminder perks?

[justlookatthatbooty]

I live in Holland but am British and interested to know what you guys would do.
We've just started working with a 21 year old non professional nanny. She's not qualified and doesn't have a lot of experience but she is good and I 'hired' her on the basis of her down to earth common sense and good way with the kids. I tend to be over nice and over generous and then go too far and have feelings of having overshot my boundaries so I'm taking greater care with this issue....
She's self employed and works a 28 hour week with us. Over here, one is required to pay for health insurance, it's obligatory. Today she asked if we would be prepared to contribute towards her health insurance and suggested that it would help to offset some of the downsides of being self employed such as not getting sick pay/holidays etc. She also said that it would help to prevent a feeling of not being valued and not wanting to leave early. At the time of conversation, which was very positive and she wasn't demanding and suggested even a small contribution would be fine and not at all insulting, I felt that it was all very fair, though I remained non committal and said I would think about it. On reflection, though I would like to support her, I'm not sure that I feel it's fair, given that she is self employed and I feel she's more of a babysitter and only has one of my kids to look after at a time, it's not really demanding and she's only just started with us (1 week ago) and didn't raise it at the start. It's also the case that we're funding a qualification process which will help us and help her so I feel that it's quite a good deal for her at good hourly rate.
But am I being tight? What is the norm in the UK? She comes to our house for the childminding by the way, which is not sole charge. She eats with us at mealtimes and gets plenty of breaks. I see from my words what my attitude actually is!
I guess I need to explore the other side in order to be fair to her as well as myself. I'm so crap at being businesslike with this, although I'm very clear in communication and good at organising things. Please help me!

In the UK you would be employing her illegally, as she should be employed and NOT self-employed.

I think you should be asking what is the norm where you live. Is there anyone else with a nanny who you can ask in your local area? Obviously things work differently out in holland. So to get a balanced view (to make sure she is not trying it on with you) yu need info locally.

I would say, like anything, if you treat those you employ/work with etc as you would wish to be treated yourself and also (within your own limitations) renumerate adequately then a good working/business relationship.

That's interesting Morning...Do you know why? Is it because she works in our home or because of the number of hours she does? Just curious as it's legal over here. One can work as a self employed registered childminder for a maximum of 3 days a week. Any more and you have to employ her. Labour law is VERY complicated here which is why no-one wants to (and doesn't)'employ' a nanny.
So, back to the point, if you are employing a nanny for 30 hours a week in the UK, you just agree on the package which commonly has perks?

Indeed Pippin re treating as I wish to be treated, sometimes that gets me in trouble though and I'm keen to stay aware of the tendency to get taken for granted. The norm here is you pay your own health insurance as a self employed childminder, but ours quotes a friend of hers who works a 60 hour week and recieves a 50% contribution because it's such a heavy workload. I understand her request very well, just reflecting on it here is good. I'm exploring my feelings too and I think I just need to allow her to flourish and that means giving her more responsibility. Let her have the opportunity to work hard and let go a little. When the little one is a little older and takes a bottle it will be easier. I'm rambling off topic now, apologies. Interesting what has come up in the process of thinking about this. She's a great girl and the situation has great potential so I'm thinking of a 25% contribution to the insurance. Thanks!

You can't just choose to be self-employed in the UK, it depends on the nature of the job. A nanny is employed as she works in your home doing what you want her to, when you want her to, for the salary you pay. A childminder on the other hand is self employed as she chooses her own hours, charges her own rates, and you can decide to use her service or not.

If you employed a nanny here, regardless of how many hours, you would have to pay her tax and national insurance, holiday pay and maternity pay. Any other "perks" (such as Christmas bonus, use of a car, mobile phone) would be agreed on between you.

Ok, thanks for the info Missus.

Seems like I should figure out an amount, agree with her and sit down and put together a contract. Off to post about some of the other issues that have come up.