In today’s world, where the economy demands two incomes family, many parents (especially moms) must reenter the workforce shortly after the baby is born. However, someone has to look after the baby and many are not lucky enough to live close to grandma and grandpa ….

Well, there are other options of course …. Nanny is one, daycare center is another. Let’s compare these possibilities.

• A Nanny can provide excellent one on one care to infants and children in your very own home in a familiar and safe environment, while in a childcare center you often will find that five children are under the care of one caregiver. Special and personal attention to each child in this case is not possible most of the time while with a nanny; you know your child is number one priority at all times.
• In a day care center outside activities may not occur as frequently as you like. A Nanny however can personalize these activities according to your wishes.
• Coughs, colds and other diseases can spread swiftly in childcare centers. While some parents don’t mind exercising their children immune systems other families can’t afford time off work to care for their offspring’s.
• A main concern to every parent is child nutrition. In a childcare center pasta and sandwiches might be the order of the day. In fact you can never be really sure of what your child is eating. A nanny however will feed your children the food that you stock in your pantry.
• If you’re working odd hours or not regular shifts, it may be stressful trying to rush back to the childcare centers before closing time. Most centers have hefty fees for every five minutes late that you are. A nanny is bound to be more flexible and open to accommodate your schedule.
• If you have more than one child, having a Nanny can be most cost effective. Childcare centers charge rates that are not competitive with the cost incurred in having a nanny. Also, keep in mind that some house chores can also be performed when children are having a nap so you come home and have more quality time with your children rather than putting a load of laundry or cooking the evening meal.

All in all, as a general rule of thumb, a nanny in your home is by far exceeding the quality care offered by care centers. Adding the other advantages indicated above, it is quite evident why many families prefer using this type of childcare over the alternative.

                          

A foreign live-in caregiver work permit process can be quite a challenge for anyone to complete, especially for working individuals who don’t know the system and all its regulations. Dealing with different government from Revenue to Immigration and with Labour and Service Canada in between can be a frustrating long road. Just recently new regulation requiring more paperwork were introduced by the Federal Labour Ministry to the long lasting foreign workers program and more are most likely to come.

This is when you need a professional to take over the complicated task. All you have to do is pick-up the phone and call the experts who have done it hundreds of times before and know all the in’s and out’s of the system. Just provide the information and your blessing in the form of signature  and leave the rest for the pros. They will do it all from A to Z until the work permit is issued.
After all, you have enough on your plate and a little less worries can do you a lot of good.

                          

Recently the federal government introduced some new regulations regarding the Live-in Caregiver Program to be implemented as of April 1, 2010. As owner operator or a nanny agency for the last 30 years, Paragon Personnel Ltd., I wonder if this was a pure coincidence that they chose this April fool’s day for the change….

If the Government is trying to eliminate exploitation of foreign worker in Canada, it has done absolutely nothing to achieve its goals. In fact, it just overburdened its own citizens with no help to the workers. Single parents, seniors and low income families are now told that they must pay thousands of dollars more for the same service with no expectation for a return on their investment. Moreover, I asked Immigration Canada what protection do employers have against caregivers who desert their employer a short time after their arrival in Canada for no good reason. The answer was: “you have to take your own risk…”

So, you offer a job to a foreign worker, you pay the agency fee, the air fare for your nanny, 3 months medical coverage insurance. You wait 5 months for her arrival, you met all conditions agreed upon in your employment contract, and you did everything as required.  But, unfortunately you live in a small town and the nanny wants to be in the big city so she tells you: “I am sorry but …” and you have no power to enforce your contract or get your money back.

Well, thank you Minister Kenny, you have done a great service to the foreigners and a very lousy one to your fellow Canadians. This may be April fools, honorable Minister, but we are no fools.

                          

Good Friday (April 2, 2010) is the next Statutory Holiday in British Columbia.
Easter Sunday (April 4, 2010) is not statutory holidays.

List of B.C. Statutory Holiday dates for 2010.

Good Friday (April 2, 2010)
Victoria Day (May 24 2010)
Canada Day (July 1st )
British Columbia Day ( Monday, August 2, 2010)
Labour Day (1st Monday in September)
Thanksgiving Day (October 11, 2010)
Remembrance Day (November 11th)
Christmas Day (December 25th)

Eligibility

To be eligible for statutory holiday pay an employee must:

• Have been employed for 30 calendar days before the statutory holiday and,

• Have worked or earned wages on 15 of the 30 days immediately before the statutory holiday.

Employees who work under an averaging agreement or variance at any time in the 30 days before the holiday do not have to meet the 15-day requirement.

No pay for ineligible employees

An employee who is not eligible for statutory holiday pay is not entitled to be paid an average day’s pay. If an ineligible employee works on a statutory holiday he or she may be paid as if it were a regular work day.

Statutory holiday on a day off

When an employee is given a day off on a statutory holiday, or it falls on a regular day off, an eligible employee is entitled to be paid an average day’s pay.

An average day’s pay is calculated by dividing “total wages” earned in the 30 calendar days before the statutory holiday by the number of days worked. Vacation days taken during this period count as days worked.

“Total wages” includes wages, commissions, statutory holiday pay and vacation pay but does not include overtime pay.

Working on a statutory holiday

An eligible employee who works on a statutory holiday is entitled to be paid:

• time-and-a-half for the first 12 hours worked and double-time for any work over 12 hours; plus

• an average day’s pay.

Substituting statutory holidays

An employer and a majority of employees can agree to substitute another day off for a statutory holiday. The Act and Regulation apply to the substitute day as if it were the statutory holiday.

                          

Many jobs available for Nannies in the Lower Mainland in the following areas:

Nanny / Caregiver Jobs

• North Vancouver – Family with 2 children (baby and toddler), looking for a driver, live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation, driving the children to activities.
  Starting date: ASAP
• Vancouver – Family with 4 year old boy and 1 year old girl, looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare and housekeeping.
  Starting date: March 1st, 2010
• Vancouver – Family with 3 children (school age), looking for a live-in or live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Vancouver – Family with 1 year old child, looking for a live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Vancouver - Family with 3 years old child, looking for a driver with a car, live-out nanny.
  Duties: childcare, meal preparation.
  Starting date: March 1st, 2010.
• West Vancouver – Family with 2 children (school age) looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: driving, childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation. TOP SALARY OFFERED PLUS BENEFITS.
  Starting date: ASAP
• West Vancouver – Family with 2 children (4 and 10 years old), looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP. Salary Negotiable.
• West Vancouver – Family with 3 children (school-age), looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP. Salary Negotiable.
• West Vancouver – Family with 3 children (school-age), looking for a driver live-in or live-out nanny.
  Duties: driving the children to activities, childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP. Salary Negotiable.
• West Vancouver – Family with 1 year old boy looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping, meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP. Salary Negotiable.
• Burnaby – Family with 2 children (baby and toddler), looking for a driver, live-out nanny.
  Duties: driver, childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Burnaby – Family with 2 children (school-age), looking for a driver, live-out nanny.
  Duties: driver, childcare, housekeeping , meal preparation.
  Starting date: ASAP.
• Surrey – Family with 1 baby, looking for a live-in nanny.
  Duties: childcare, housekeeping.
  Starting date: February 1st, 2010. Salary Negotiable.
• White Rock – Couple seniors live-in caregiver.
  Duties: meal preparation, housekeeping.
  Starting date: February 1st, 2010. Salary Negotiable.

Call 604-298-6633 and find the right job for you. Send us an Email: info@paragon-personnel.com Check our website: http://paragon-personnel.com

                          

You like someone but aren’t quite sure whether to hire her? The ideal solution is to have her come back for a second interview (the first with parents only, the second with parents and children).
If you do call somebody back for a second interview, it makes sense to have her spend an hour or so with your child in a relatively unsupervised setting. You may wander in and out of the room and observe their interaction, or watch how they get along when they’re together in your neighborhood playground.

Asking the nanny to come back for a second interview may help assure you that you’re making the right decision, but it could well be seen by the childcare applicant as an imposition (it does cost her time and money). So if you do call someone back for a second or third interview, a good faith gesture on your part might be to reimburse her for her expenses and pay her for her time. The best policy is to pay an applicant the same hourly rate as she would get if she were working for you.

Don’t rush into a decision you’re not completely comfortable with. But remember, somebody who’s really good might be snapped up by someone else while you’re straddling the fence.
People who have previously hired in-home childcare workers often have a more specific job description in mind than those who are hiring for the first time. These experienced childcare employers may, therefore, be more decisive, finding it easier to interview and easier to make a decision than families hiring caregivers for the first time.

                          

Work with a nice family that appreciates your work.

CALL: 604-298-6633.

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British Columbia Day – August 3, 2009 – is a statutory holiday

The first Monday of August is a legal holiday to be observed as “British Columbia Day”.

According to the Ministry of Labour ” to be eligible for statutory holiday pay an employee must:

* Have been employed for 30 calendar days before the statutory holiday and,
* Have worked or earned wages on 15 of the 30 days immediately before the statutory holiday.

Employees who work under an averaging agreement or variance at any time in the 30 days before the holiday do not have to meet the 15-day requirement.

No pay for ineligible employees

An employee who is not eligible for statutory holiday pay is not entitled to be paid an average day’s pay. If an ineligible employee works on a statutory holiday he or she may be paid as if it were a regular work day.

Exclusions

Specific regulations exclude certain groups such as managers, agriculture workers, some commission salespersons, and high technology professionals from the statutory holiday provisions of the Act. Please see the factsheets relating to these groups.

Statutory holiday on a day off

When an employee is given a day off on a statutory holiday, or it falls on a regular day off, an eligible employee is entitled to be paid an average day’s pay.

An average day’s pay is calculated by dividing “total wages” earned in the 30 calendar days before the statutory holiday by the number of days worked. Vacation days taken during this period count as days worked.

“Total wages” includes wages, commissions, statutory holiday pay and vacation pay but does not include overtime pay.

Working on a statutory holiday

An eligible employee who works on a statutory holiday is entitled to be paid:

o time-and-a-half for the first 12 hours worked and double-time for any work over 12 hours; plus
o an average day’s pay.

Substituting statutory holidays

An employer and a majority of employees can agree to substitute another day off for a statutory holiday. The Act and Regulation apply to the substitute day as if it were the statutory holiday.”

                          

Parents’ expectations of care givers vary widely. Some expect the world; others are more realistic. Below are some of parents’ responses concerning expectations:

• “I want my nanny to be a substitute mother for my children.”
• “I want her to be half housekeeper, half nanny.”
• “She should be more than an employee. I want her to be part of the family.”
• “I just want  someone who’ll love and take care of my children.”
• “We want someone who’s professional, intelligent, and warm.”

Do you have more questions? Visit our Forum: CAREGIVERS in CANADA.

Here are some of care giver’s responses:

• “I want to be part of the family.”
• “This is just a job.”
• “I wish to had an employer who appreciates my work.”
• “I want to find a family who respects and understand me.”

Parents should be realistic about their expectations for a childcare worker. What in fact are realistic expectations? Let’s start with the most obvious fact: To you, it’s your home and your child, but to your caregiver , it’s a job. If the job brings attachment, love, and respect, generally everyone (especially your children) benefits. It’s no coincidence that virtually  every nanny needs to be respected and appreciated, and that the vast majority of parents who were satisfied with their permanent childcare arrangements also spoke about their relationships of mutual respect with caregivers. As a parent, you may expect yourself to be on call twenty-four hours a day, but you cannot reasonably expect this of your employee. You may give selflessly to your children, but your caregiver (who may in fact love your kids) may also have a family of her own.

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The letter of Agreement Nanny-Employer states the terms you negotiate with your caregiver.

In this letter you may want to pinpoint the terms that suit your family and the nanny that you want to hire.

This Agreement is entered into as of _______ between ___________(hereinafter known as Family), and_______  (hereinafter referred to as Nanny) shall be in force for one year from the date of signature of both parties. Family and Nanny hereby agree to a one-year employment commitment unless Nanny is terminated for cause. Both parties agree to give at lease two (2) weeks notice before job termination unless Nanny is terminated for cause.

Do you have more questions? Visit our Forum: CAREGIVERS in CANADA.

Family and Nanny agree to the following conditions of employment:

1. Employment.
Employment will begin on ________ and is considered “at will”. Nanny is to provide childcare services and other duties as set forth below.

2. Work Schedule.
Nanny will provide childcare from ___ A.M. to ___ P.M., from Monday through Friday. During these hours, Nanny shall devote (his/her) entire time, attention and energies to providing care and performing other duties as listed below.
3. Compensation.
Family shall pay Nanny and Nanny hereby accepts in full payment for services:

• An (hourly rate of  _____) (monthly salary of  _____) which shall be paid (weekly/bimonthly/monthly) on the _____ day(s) of (week/month).
• Overtime compensation (specify).
• Performance-based increase after  (6 months/one year).

4. Probationary Period.
Family and Nanny agree that there shall be a probationary period of ___ days. During this period either party can terminate this Agreement by giving ___ days notice.

5. Termination.
The following are grounds for immediate termination with cause:

• Allowing the children’s safety to be compromised
• Inconsistent or non performance of agreed upon job responsibilities
• Dishonesty or lying to Family
• Stealing
• Breach of confidentiality clause
• Unapproved guests
• Smoking or consumption of alcohol while on duty
• Illegal drug use

Nanny’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated upon one of more of the following:

• By Family or Nanny for due cause upon 24 hours notice. “Due cause” is defined as breach of a material term of this Agreement.
• By Family without cause upon  ___ weeks notice, or in lieu of ___ weeks notice, ___ weeks salary.
• By Nanny upon ___ weeks notice.
• By Nanny’s total disability or partial disability which renders Nanny unable to perform services for more than ___ weeks.

6. Childcare responsibilities.
(Choose the ones that suit you and the Nanny you hire).

Nanny agrees to:

• Put the absolute safety of the children first before all other responsibilities
• Provide care, warmth, and security in the absence of parents.
• Plan activities that promote physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development
• Maintain a patient, cheerful, and helpful attitude while on duty.
• Actively participate in the children’s special problems and interests and serve as a resource for problem solving.
• Tend to children’s basic needs such as bathing, dressing, changing diapers, brushing teeth, and afternoon naps.
• Administer medicine to children as directed by Family.
• Plan and prepare nutritious snacks and meals for children during scheduled hours; clean up kitchen and dining table when completed.
• Participate and supervise activities with children, which would include: games, walks, play dates, playground outings and reading to children daily.
• Limit television/video and computer games to ___ minutes per day.
• Comply with Family’s discipline and child-rearing preferences.
• Provide reasonable flexibility in times of emergency or unexpected schedule changes.
• Keep the children’s bedrooms and play area clean and organized; which includes making the beds, vacuuming carpet, cleaning and disinfecting toys, etc.
• Clean children’s laundry (clothes and bed linens).
• Use Family automobile to drive children to activities and events.
• Meal preparation for Family.
• Feed and care for Family pets-daily.
• Grocery shopping.
• Make bed- entire home.
• Clean kitchen and empty dishwasher-daily.
• Clean interior windows and mirrors: bi-monthly.
• Clean, dust and vacuum entire house: bi-monthly.
• Clean Family’s laundry-weekly.
• Run errands – dry-cleaning, bank deposit, grocery store, etc. when necessary.

7. CPR and First Aid.

• Nanny agrees to complete an infant/child CPR and First Aid class prior to beginning employment or within ___ weeks of employment.
• If Nanny does not successfully complete CPR and First Aid class, Family may terminate Nanny without severance pay or notice.
• Family (will/will not) pay for approved CPR and First Aid class.

8. Personal Background Check.

• Nanny agrees to complete the official fingerprint process through British Columbia Police  Department.
• If the Personal Background Check indicates any record of criminal activity Family may terminate Nanny without severance pay or notice.
• Family will pay for fingerprint procedure and Personal Background Check fees.

9. Benefits.

• Holidays.
  Nanny shall receive the statutory holidays as paid vacation if nanny would otherwise be required to work on that day of the week.
• Sick Days.
  ___ days of paid sick leave will be allowed every year, accrued at the rate of  ___ hours per month.
• Vacation.
  ___ week(s) of paid vacation will be allowed every calendar year (check as applicable):
  • _______ To be coordinated with Family’s vacation
  • _______ After ____ months of employment
  • _______ Other

10. Evaluations.

Nanny’s job performance will be evaluated by Family at the end of the first month of employment and every ___ months thereafter.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties agree that they have read and signed this Agreement as of the day and year written above.

FAMILY:                                                                     CAREGIVER:
____________________________________________________________________________________________

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When families decide to have a nanny in their home, they think about what it means to have a new person on her own with their children. They think about the changes that will take place and how the kids will accept the stranger. In most cases, a nanny is not hired for a short term. Parents don’t like to change nannies and the nannies don’t like to change families. In many cases the children get attached to the nanny and she is considered a part of the family.
Do you have more questions? Visit our Forum: CAREGIVERS in CANADA.

If a family does not need a nanny on regular basis but only for a few hours sporadically, then a babysitter will be more appropriate then a nanny full-time. The question is where to look for a babysitter when your needs are for only a short period of time knowing that is not easy to have the same person babysitting whenever is required.

One should try as many ways as possible including friends’ and relatives’ referrals, newspapers and bulletin board advertisements and not in the least, domestic help agencies, especially those specialized in nannies. Although, a nanny or domestic help agency will ask you for a fee for finding a babysitter, the advantage is that the agency will do the screening process and if the babysitter is not available, the agency will provide a substitute for her.

Regardless of the screening done by the nanny agency, you should interview the baby-sitter at your home so you will have a better sense about the interaction with your kids and if they will feel comfortable with her at home.

Some questions to ask of potential babysitters:

1. How would you make sure that my child does not play with dangerous objects or swallow poisons?
2. Have you ever taken care of an injured child? What would you do if my child fell off a swing? How would you decide when to call an ambulance?
3. What would you do if there were an emergency in the house like a fire or a gas leak?
4. Do you plan to have children of your own? What do you like about children/
5. Have you ever taken care of your younger brothers or sisters? What do you dislike about children?
6. What would you do if my child complained that he was bored?
7. Tell me how you plan to spend the day (evening) while you are caring for my child?
8. If my child broke an expensive object in the house or refused to eat her dinner, what would you do?
9. What do you feel are your main duties as a babysitter?

The following are tips on choosing and orienting a babysitter:

• Choose babysitters who demonstrates knowledge of how to prevent injuries. They should have taken first aid training or a babysitting course that includes first aid. The Canadian Red Cross Society offers these types of courses.
• Orient a new babysitter to your home. Show the babysitter the first aid supplies, emergency telephone numbers, the escape plan in case of fire and how to control heat, stove, lights and fuse box.
• Be clear about activities and areas that are off limits to children.
• Leave the telephone number where you will be and the number of a neighbour who could be of assistance in an emergency.
• After the children are put to bed, the sitter should check each of them once an hour. Make it clear that the babysitter should not sleep.
• The babysitter should not be allowed to entertain friends. He or she is hired to do a job and should not be distracted.
• The telephone should not be used for personal calls. It is for emergency use only.
• The babysitter should know what the child is doing at all times.
• If possible, avoid asking babysitters to give medicine. If you must, give them careful instructions.
• Babysitters should not smoke. Smoking is a fire and health hazard. Smoke may cause or worsen children’s colds, flu, asthma and bronchitis.
• Babysitters should not be expected to do chores. Their concerns is for the safety of the child.
• Check out your babysitters thoroughly. Make unscheduled visits home until you are sure you can trust them.

Before you leave home give to your babysitters a written list of the chores needed for your child’s well being, instructions, everyday telephone numbers, phone numbers to be used in case of emergency.

Here is a sample information sheet you can leave with your babysitter:

INFORMATION FOR BABYSITTERS

Parents Names:________________________

The House Address:_____________________

The Phone Number of the House:___________

Mother’s Work Phone:____________________

Mother’s Mobile Phone:___________________

Father’s Work Phone:_____________________

Father’s Mobile Phone:____________________

Neighbour’s or Relative’s Name:______________

Neighbour’s or Relative’s Phone Number:______

Child’s Bedtime:__________________________

Mealtime Instructions:_____________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

Special Instructions:______________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________

Fire:_________________________________911
Police:________________________________911
Ambulance:____________________________911
Poison Control Center:______________________

Doctor’s Name:____________________________

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