Employing a nannie? cost?

Wow, thanks Reluctant Mom, the info about interviewing is great! I made exactly that mistake on Friday - talking too much and asking too many questions and not giving the person a chance to speak enough - I'll definitely follow your advice this week.

Any medical testing can get very vague and also lead to abuse.

If you state it upfront that a HIV/HIV what ever test is required, it will help. Best to state it at the outset with your agency or whom ever.

Legally the issue is always does the result of the test infringe of whether the person can do the job i.e. can you really stop someone who is HIV positive from doing a job that whether they are HIV positive/negative actually has not bearing on their ability to perform the job.

Here is the rub - if someone feels that they are entitled to the job, and for all intensive purposes you have indicated they will give them the job subject to the test results, and then the test results return and based on that you decide not to employ that person, there is a chance that the potential employee (an applicant has the same protection as an employee) can take you to the CCMA and have a good case.

Whether anyone has and has won, I can't say. I would discuss this issue with the employment agency you are using.

Bear in mind that for a child to get HIV from a carer, it so slight it is almost impossible - based on normal circumstances. I TOTALLY TOTALLY understand the fear - TOTALLY. I have kids, I have domestics, I have the same fears ...

Bear in mind, your domestic may test negative today, you hire her, she may be positive and it does not show for another month.

I am just trying to be realistic that nothing in the world is certain, no matter how we try to protect ourselves.

Great info RM

So legally I'm allowed to ask that they go for an HIV and TB test? I've been wondering about that. I'm about to have my baby in 3 weeks time, so I'll be looking for someone to start in Jan when I go to work.
I'm very paranoid. And would really rest easy knowing that the person I left at home with baby is 'kosher'. There are many household accidents that can happen. Sorry if this offends anyone.

Ps; I'll obviously cover the costs for the medical checks.

Beatrice - the key to interviewing is to let the person speak.

We often get so caught up in asking questions and them answering, but it often does not give them time to really tell you anything.

I prefer to keep questions quite vague and then let them talk.

Tell me about what you did in your last job?
(Initially the answer may be - I looked after children - but then push it and say, explain your day, you woke up at what time and then what?)

Ask them a key question - what did you do when baby was sleeping?

What did you feed the baby - did you make the food, explain what happened.

How did you cope when baby was sick? Tell me what happened when baby was sick - how did you take a temperature etc.

What happened when the mom came home?

What is the part you enjoyed/what part did you least enjoy?

I found it easier to focus on a job they have and push them to talk around that - rather than ask inane questions.

Finish the interview with:

What salary are you looking for? (Even if it is on the paper in front of you, ask it and discuss it.)
Ask if they have children - who looks after them? Be sure you understand what the family responsibilities are - this often falls to the women in a family/house hold even if they are working.
Legally you can ask if they have had an HIV/TB test - you cannot make a decision based on the results (no seriously)
You can also ask that part of this job is that they go for a screening which you pay for.
Make sure you get at least 3 references.
Ensure you clearly understand why that person is on the job market.
Legally you are entitled to do a criminal check.
Try your best to ask questions that just get them to talk, try to sit there as best as possible and say nothing - the more someone talks in an interview the more you can gauge from them.

Listen to you red flags - listen - often things will go off, and we then excuse them. The red flags are your warnings. Listen to them.

The only notes you should make are - name, cell number, availability, suburb where they live, how they will get to work, how long it takes them etc.

You should have a copy of their CV to work from. (please remember everyone is desperate to find a job, so ensure you listen and tryst that feeling you have)

Good luck - finding someone is really hard.

Check with the department of labour. In durban you would pay less than Jhb (thats for everything, my hubby would earn about 70% more if we moved to Jhb, we just like warm weather and the beach too much). I am employing a caregiver/domestic for R2000 a month, which is a good wage for durbs (most people I know pay less, in fact the cleaners at the hospital earn about 1600 a month and they dont get free lunch (which I supply). Her 1st priority is James, but given that I work from home, when I am not with a patient I expect her to do basic housework (mainly ironing). I do all my own washing, and dishes, make the bed etc...

Make sure you have a contract with all terms and conditions (ie sick leave/ annual leave etc.) If someone works more than 18hours a week you have to register them for UIF (this isnt much and you can oay once off at the beginning of the year). I think the current minimum wage is about R7 an hour (this may be way off, I'm not sure, so work on that (ie in a 40 hour week they would come away with abou R1200 a month).

My mom will be coming to look after Emily when I go back to work next year. She will stay in Monday and Tuesday nights, go home on Wednesday nights and come back on Thursday mornings, then leave again on Friday afternoons and come back on Monday mornings. DH is off for 2 days during the week, every second week, so she will get one of those days off every second week. No cleaning as I get someone in once or twice a week to clean depending on how much cleaning needs to be done. I do my laundry myself and cleaning lady does the ironing. So, all mom needs to do is look after Emily and start supper for me if she can. We have agreed on R2ooo per month with an increase in July when I get my increase and a bonus in December. R2000 is what I would have offered someone else as well since there is no cleaning to be done, except keeping Emily's room tidy and because she would get 2 extra days off per month.

i have a nanny we pay R 3000 pm she does not live with us. her hours are 7-5 and everytime i need her to babysit or am late it is an extra 100 rand per day.

i did not want to take my lb to daycare because of winter, but when he turns 1 i am going to pay her out and get rid of her.

i must say that i'm not so keen on nannies anymore, alot has happened. the other day i got home and the formula i bout the night b4 wasnt even opened meaning that he only had the 1 bottle i made in the morning the whole day. yes she does clean i bath him myself and do my own washing, she just irons and cleans our 2 bedroom townhouse.

the closest daycare charges R 2700 so i thought i might as well get her in for R3000.

you never know what they do the moment you step out the door