Nanny pay during Covid-19

Hi there,

Hope everyone is safe.

I am curious whether people are still paying their nannies assuming they are not working (taking care of kids) due to shelter in place orders. We told our nanny not to come since mid March and have been paying her on weekly basis. Now I’m getting nervous about my job (I am also assuming zero bonus for this year) and whether it is cold to let her ago after 2 months? Days are long as I’m working harder working from home that office and teaching kids has been a nightmare. I really don’t think schools will open till we get a vaccine.

Thoughts?

How long has she been with you? Is she covered by unemployment insurance? Can you give her at least a couple of weeks severance? What resources does she have? Family nearby?

if your nanny had been on the books, good chance she would make more on unemployment with the bonus 600/week.  problem is if she hadn't been paying taxes and she applies for UI, it could eventually be flagged by the IRS in a few years.

it really needs to be an individual decision....if the employer has the finances and the nanny is wonderful, i would recommend continuing to pay.  If the employer is losing income and doesn't enough savings to cover the nanny's pay and keep the family finances comfortable, it would be understandable not to pay.

you can still allow your nanny to work if you are comfortable with that.

Yes, If you pay her on the books, consider a furlough and let/help her file for benefits.

3 years 

We have been paying her since mid March (she stopped coming since mid March) and plan to pay her till mid June. 

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

How long has she been with you? Is she covered by unemployment insurance? Can you give her at least a couple of weeks severance? What resources does she have? Family nearby?

jmitw said:

if your nanny had been on the books, good chance she would make more on unemployment with the bonus 600/week.  problem is if she hadn't been paying taxes and she applies for UI, it could eventually be flagged by the IRS in a few years.

it really needs to be an individual decision....if the employer has the finances and the nanny is wonderful, i would recommend continuing to pay.  If the employer is losing income and doesn't enough savings to cover the nanny's pay and keep the family finances comfortable, it would be understandable not to pay.

you can still allow your nanny to work if you are comfortable with that.

 Someone in our household has compromised health issue and don’t want any outsiders in the home

if she is off the books, you could back track and start paying taxes, but in the end, paying taxes may be more than she would get with UI.....claim she started  Oct 2019 or something..paying all the taxes current...

If she is a US citizen/permanent resident, taxes do benefit her...UI, social security disability/retirement/nj temp disability.....I could see if this was a foreign nanny planning on going home after the gig not personally benefiting from taxes (beyond what goes to general services)

depending on the age of the kids, can she do an hour of cyber sitting to give you a break....read to the kids, sing, etc through the internet