One of the first things families tell us is that they would prefer their new hire to stay with them for the long-term. Similarly, most of the candidates we speak with are seeking a long-term position to allow them to grow with the family and become a valued member of the household.

Yet, every day, we speak with candidates that are seeking new employment opportunities because their current employer is “amazing, and they hate to leave” but there’s just this one thing they aren’t doing right, one thing they haven’t offered, or one thing they aren’t able to be flexible on, that prevents the candidate from staying longer.

Below, we discuss a few common reasons why highly qualified talent chooses to seek new employment opportunities, and we hope this provides some insight into best practices that will allow you to retain your household employee for the long-term.

What Will Affect My Current Employee’s Decision to Continue Working With Me for the Long Term?

Money

While nannies and private household employees enter the industry for their love of service, it’s unsurprising that they find it equally important that they are being compensated in a way that they feel is fair.

One common occurrence that household employees experience is having additional responsibilities added to their job duties as they become more confident and proficient in their role. However, if this becomes significant enough to be considered a  “promotion” or change in job title, the employee will expect to be offered a raise to account for the amount of extra work they are performing. Offering a yearly raise is another way to avoid this, as it is common for employees to take on more tasks the longer that they work for a family. This also help adjust for the cost of inflation. Failing to offer yearly raises to your employee after satisfactory performance reviews  to show them that they are appreciated, might just cause your employee to keep their eyes on the lookout for something more lucrative.

Our recommendations on how to help retain a high quality employee:

• Pay your employee legally via payroll, covering your share of required employer taxes

• Yearly raises of at least 3% (subject to a satisfactory performance review)

• Discretionary or performance-based bonus pay during the holiday season

• Healthcare stipend covering all or a portion of the employee’s monthly health insurance costs if the employee has their own individual insurance plan

Work/Life Balance

Working long hours on a consistent basis can be draining for anyone, no matter your job. Early mornings, late nights, or some combination of the two are common requirements of a job in the domestic employment industry. 

Here are some ways to avoid burnout for your nanny or household employee:

• Instead of asking your weekday nanny to come in on a weekend, consider utilizing a babysitter to give them the weekend off to rest and recharge.

• Surprise your employee by allowing them to leave early on days you may not need them as much (while still paying them guaranteed hours)

• Allow your employee to decide their own paid vacation days, while still adhering to the required notice period and defined limit on the amount of paid days as outlined in your contract 

Expectations of the Role

One of the biggest reasons that new hires do not last for the long-term is a mismanagement of expectations or an improper job description. Either, a candidate is settling for a role that does not meet their minimum qualifications or “must-haves”, or they accept a position for a role that is presented one way to them, only to find a totally different job description or set of requirements once the job progresses.

While you are interviewing candidates for your open position consider the following:

• Does this person have flexibility in their schedule and lifestyle to meet the requirements of my family? 

  • Ex: Nanny’s ability to do overnights with the children

  • Ex: Candidate’s willingness to travel with a family to a second home or a vacation destination

• Are the duties outlined in my job description truly an accurate reflection of what a candidate will be expected to do on a regular basis?

Utilizing an agency can help you to find a candidate that fits the personality requirements of your household, being able to step back and see the “bigger picture” of what is expected from both parties.

You’ve got enough on your plate in your day-to-day life — let us make your life easier by handling your unique household staffing needs.

If you are a family looking for a nanny, house manager, family assistant, or other home service, submit an application with My Household Managed.

If you are a professional nanny, house manager, or family assistant looking for a job, apply at My Household Managed.