Terms & Conditions for Nanny

[SamboM]

I am in the process of drawing up a contract for our (wonderful) nanny. Just wondered what you all provide for your nannies in terms of holidays, benefits etc.

I am thinking of the following:

4 weeks holiday, 2 weeks to be taken at the same time as us, 2 weeks when she chooses.

10 days sick pay in any one calender year, then SSP.

Use of a car at all times (will she get taxed on that?)

Possibly private healthcare if it's not too expensive. Does anyone else provide this?

To me 4 weeks A/L a year doesn't seem very much. Is that the norm?
Is that excluding Xmax and New Year?
Just asking out of curiosity.

No, she would get all bank holidays on top of that. Actually she never seems to go on holiday anyway and is happy to take hers when we do.

BTW mears, how much do you get? 4 weeks is the norm in industry.

4 weeks is generally the norm for nannies. Ours has averaged 6 weeks but her contract is for 4. All the rest looks fine. If you keep the car on an informal basis, there shouldn't be any tax due which in any case, as nannies are paid net would usually be down to you to pay rather than her.

I have never heard of anyone providing private healthcare to a Nanny. Personally I wouldn't as there would be a tax liability on it and in any case, I have always had BUPA through work but have never found it to be of any practical use. You might want to clarify how much notice she needs to give you for holiday taken at her choice.

i'd include a confidentiality clause too, stating that she can't either now or in the future divulge information to other about you and your family which is obviously confidential. Also a few details on what her main duties are going to be/ how you deal with visitors etc

I asked about this a while ago and got some good advice from Kaz33 and others

I don't agree with bells2the comment about the car on an informal basis - you will need to sort the insurance out for a start and bear in mind she is using it for work - her work, The last nanny agency I used actually asked its candidates to give a copy of their insurance to show they were fully insured for business. If the car is kept at your house and only used by the nanny for work then there is no taxable benefit but if she uses it even once for her own purposes technically she is caught for tax on a benefit and you as employer have to pay extra national insurance ( called class 1a) as well as whatever you sought out with her. After one experience of providing a car for a nanny it was never again. Pay her mileage instead - you can pay up to 40p per week tax free.
I have also tried the 2 weeks us 2 weeks her but but that did not work either for various reasons and once the oldest child is at school of course you don't really want her off in term time. So they have to go with our holidays now.
I got less and less generous with each contract although all my nannies have been wonderful because to be honest I have felt it was like writing an open cheque otherwise.Have you considered for example what 10 days full pay for when she is sick will cost you given you need to either take time off work yourself or pay for a temporary nanny?

I think all that is fine Sambo, except the private healthcare which is over the top (nice thought, though!)
I think the holiday is fair. Specify that she gets usual English bank holidays on top.
As Ros says I wouldn't put use of the car in the contract, but I would buy her full insurance for it as she will be using it for work and make it an informal arrangement that she can use the car all the rest of the time unless you need it for something.

One thing I always put in is obligations to babysit if they have any - we used to have 2 nights babysitting included in our weekly rate and if you have anything similar I'd put it in the contract.
Would also make sure you have a clear list of instantly sackable offences - eg use of or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while on duty, violent behaviour towards the children, theft etc.
Also must be very clear as to the notice period on either side - 4 weeks each is normal but you may also want to put the first 3 months as a probationary period during which time you may sack her on a week's notice if necessary. If you already know your nanny you may not need this but it is a useful thing to have if you need to get rid of someone who quickly appears to have been a mistake.

Thanks everyone. The car thing is interesting - I have known my nanny for 2 + years and she has done bits and pieces for me already, but we are now formalising it. She has been on my car insurance for a while but only for domestic use, I will change it now.

Won't bother with the private healthcare.

Holidays/sick days my mum can help out with so that's not a problem (plus I like the odd day off work if she's sick lol!)

I have 7 weeks a year which is inclusive of public holidays.

I have 7 weeks a year which is inclusive of public holidays.

Sorry - don't know why that came up twice. It was a reply to SamboM.

Of course the Nanny's name has to be on the carinsurance. By "informal" I meant just not putting it in writing i.e. in the contract. Interestingly as part of our recent wrangles with our Nanny, in the UK it is the employer's right to choose when employees take holidays. I hadn't realised this and whilst I think in an ideal world, the nanny should choose at least a reasonable portion of her holidays, work and school commitments can obviously make this difficult.