Posted on March 27th, 2013 in category Childcare, Employer Information, Holiday, Traveling |
It’s that time of year again … SPRING BREAK! No doubt you’re looking forward to the great plans you’ve made. You might not be thinking about childcare on your trip just yet, but you will! If you are travelling with your Nanny, here are a few tips to consider while traveling: Remember, you pay for her expenses, including airfare, hotel, food, etc. Your Nanny is working and although she is on a vacation with you, she is still likely to need relief here and there. There are other resources you can use during these much-needed breaks. Consider talking to your hotel concierge for options. You and your Nanny should discuss travel pay. We recommend that your Nanny be paid overnight wages in addition to her daily wages, or a fixed daily rate. Recommended overnight pay can range from $75 to $150 per night. Leaving your Nanny at home while you travel? Consider these tips: She was counting on those hours so you should pay her for her time. The children may not be present but you can assign her tasks to help with the house while you’re away. In general, we recommend that families agree in advance that their nannies …
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Posted on February 11th, 2013 in category Announcements, Childcare, Holiday, Temporary Nannies |
February has long been the month to celebrate love and romance. Wikipedia notes that Saint Valentine has been associated with “courtly love” since the High Middle Ages (1000 to 1299 AD). More recently, according to History.com, “American’s probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s.” Valentine’s Day is now the second largest card-sending holiday of the year after Christmas. So here we are heading into the week of Valentine’s Day – it’s not too late to book an on-call or temporary Nanny for your date night! Saint Valentine will be thrilled you took the initiative to celebrate your day of love. We realize that it’s not always possible to plan your temporary help in advance so we’ve made it easy for you. Please give us a call to arrange for your short term, last minute or even emergency backup requirements. You can email us at temp@tandcr.com. You can also call us at 415-567-0956 or 650-326-8570 during normal hours, or at 415-508-8367 (415-508-TEMP) Friday after hours and on weekends.
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You’re happy with the services your household employee provides for you and your family, so why not show them how you feel? The holiday season is here and this is a perfect opportunity to show them just how grateful you are. When it comes to holiday tipping, there are no hard and fast rules. How much you give largely depends on what you feel you can afford and the quality of service you receive. That said, there are certain gifts our Candidates tell us are particularly coveted. Read on for Town + Country’s top ten. Money Talks. The time-tested cash bonus is always appreciated, and is the gift of choice for about half of the families we work with. How much to give? A good rule of thumb is one to three week’s salary depending on the number of years of service. Pick Up The Tab. Give them a night out on the town with a gift certificate to a special restaurant or movie passes. Deck Their Halls. Send a little holiday cheer their way with a wreath, floral arrangement or potted plant. Put It In Writing. Take time out to compose a handwritten note expressing how much your employee means to you, …
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Posted on November 14th, 2012 in category Employer Information, Employer Resources, Holiday |
Whether you hired your nanny or other in-home employee through Town + Country or by some other means, you’ve undoubtedly invested a good deal of time and effort to make the right hire. Now make sure you keep your valued employee. Communication and showing appreciation are “musts” in all facets of a domestic staffed household. If you are currently a domestic employer, annual reviews, bonus structures, raises, benefits, small perks and kind words of appreciation keep your staff happy and your household running smoothly. Take it upon yourself to acknowledge that you are involved in a service industry and communicating needs can be difficult. Being respectful of your employee’s time, efforts and energy will make all the difference in their performance and longevity as a happy employee. Here are some specific strategies to help you manage & retain your employee: – Check in periodically. Sometimes called “stay interviews” in the corporate world, it’s wise regularly to talk to our nanny or other in-home employee to see how they are doing, how the job is going, what if anything they might suggest changing or improving, etc. – Clearly communicate your expectations. Developing an employee to work in your home, even a …
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We recently added additional hours of coverage for our Temp Department. Now clients & candidates can both call in Friday through Sunday after hours. Need a Nanny on a moment’s notice? Last minute plans changed? In town for vacation or for a convention? Have an emergency that’s come up? Our regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, but now you can also reach us after hours, Fridays, 5:00 to 8:00 pm and Saturdays & Sundays, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. You can always reach the Temp Department by email at temp@tandcr.com. You can also reach our Temp Department counselors directly by phone or text at 415-508-TEMP (415-508-8367). We’re here to help, and now it’s even more convenient for you.
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