Hiring an Assistant...

[NoMoreJuice!]

Well, as I mentioned in a previous post, the hubs was going to be my second provider at my daycare. After three weeks of this, he has decided it is not his cup of tea (can you blame him? Sometimes this job stinks). I think it's just being confined to the house or the nearby park, or the monotony of the routine.

Anyway. I have already enrolled extra kids, so when he goes back to work, I will be left with too many kids for my capacity table. I have decided to hire an assistant.

My questions for those experienced with hiring, training, and maintaining an employee:

1. How do you interview? The first interview I conducted I felt I treated as a daycare parent interview, where I showed them all around and told them about the program. I thought I would just get a good vibe from a nice person that I thought I could work with, but I want to get more detailed.

2. What are some very specific questions you feel it is important to ask a potential hire?

3. How strict are you with tardiness, etc? Do you have an employee handbook that you follow? Is it difficult to be a "boss" and how do you maintain your employer-employee relationship?

4. Is $8.50 reasonable to pay them, followed by a 6 month $.50 raise?

5. Any other super important things or sage advice/wisdom you can share with me?

Thank you all!!

[daycare]

have you read nannyde article on this, I think its on the front page

[daycarediva]

I am advertising for help now. I ask for a resume emailed me to, and at least SOME non parenting related child care experience.

I called local centers and asked them their average employee hourly rate---around 8-9. I am going to pay around 10.

I will have a small employee handbook, tardiness and calling off will NOT be tolerated and I will stress that at interview.

I also looked up the tax laws, and hiring/firing laws for my state, just in case.

It is stressful!!!

[TwinKristi]

I'm interested as well. I have a friend/neighbor who uses an assistant often (I was one before starting my own DC) and she just hired someone and sent her down to my house and I'd like to utilize her services as well but don't know how I "start"...
Do I just "tell" parents? Announce in an email? Flyer? What if they're unhappy? How many days do you train? Mine wouldn't be FT, just if I have an appt or something to avoid closing. I'm thinking of having her come for a few hours one day before actually leaving her, meet parents and kids, see how I do things, etc. She's $13/hr but it should be worth it for a couple hours at a time vs closing. It would never be a whole day or anything.

[daycare]

I have 3 employees

I can share with you what I have and what I expect.

first mistake we are not friends, just like your DC parents this is a business

second, it is hard at times to boss or manage because you work so closely with this person in your home. I am very chill, but I mean what I mean.

NO social media tied to my business, your profile must be private, it is what I require if you want to work here. If you don't want to do that you don't need to work here.

NO Cell phones on the job, you can use them at break time, no pics of any children with that phone EVER



I will not tolerate late arrival for any reason. If you are sick you must call in at least 3 hours before your shift starts. I will allow 3 a year, unless you can prove that you are really sick, which will cost you a doc note.

No babysitting for the DC parents I catch you, your done.

I do all the communicating with the parents, you are here to only assist me.

I have job descriptions of what they must do on a daily basis. I have one that comes only for nap time and I have a daily list of what she needs to get done during this time.

I have not had any issues with my employees other than one that was not clocking in and out on time. We worked that out and all is good. All of my employees have been with me for over a year one is going on year 3.

I only give a raise once a year and that is if they have met all of the requirements.

[craftymissbeth]

Daycare, would you mind sharing your job descriptions? I'm considering hiring someone part time in the mornings to help me get the older kids outside while the infants nap... and so I can actually get stuff done around here.

[MCC]

I have one full time assistant, and a few subs that I use.

I agree with a lot of what daycare says, the most important is that they are not your friend. I am friendly with them, but no personal stuff.

I have struggled to put my foot down with certain things, b/c it is a bit awkward working so close with someone after having a "talk" with them about their work efforts.

When I first started hiring, I was looking for someone I "clicked" with, and I realized that was a bit of a mistake. I need someone who will WORK, not entertain me. I do prefer that we share similar beliefs and morals when it comes to dealing with the kids, but as long as they follow my directions and training, then I don't really care if we click.

I train them for about a week before I leave them alone with the kids, I will start by going into a different area of my house, and then maybe take a walk with some kids while I leaves others with them, then eventually leave the house.

I will say, it added a HUGE level of stress to this business, I now have a payroll company, a CPA, and an attorney, b/c I do not know the labor laws, and I didn't want to mess up.

I pay $9.50 until they get their CPR cert, and then $10 after that.

[NoMoreJuice!]

Thank you all for your input. I am so nervous. I have three interviews between now and Saturday morning, so I am trying to come up with some great questions to ask the candidates.

Do you have a killer question that you would recommend? Or do you give a scenario, and ask how they would respond?

[Cradle2crayons]

Thank you all for your input. I am so nervous. I have three interviews between now and Saturday morning, so I am trying to come up with some great questions to ask the candidates.

Do you have a killer question that you would recommend? Or do you give a scenario, and ask how they would respond?

I would ask specific scenario things. Write down specific kid behavior issues and ask how they deal with the issues.

[Cradle2crayons]

I'm interested as well. I have a friend/neighbor who uses an assistant often (I was one before starting my own DC) and she just hired someone and sent her down to my house and I'd like to utilize her services as well but don't know how I "start"...
Do I just "tell" parents? Announce in an email? Flyer? What if they're unhappy? How many days do you train? Mine wouldn't be FT, just if I have an appt or something to avoid closing. I'm thinking of having her come for a few hours one day before actually leaving her, meet parents and kids, see how I do things, etc. She's $13/hr but it should be worth it for a couple hours at a time vs closing. It would never be a whole day or anything.

$13 an hour? I'm in the wrong part of the profession .

I don't even make that! I don't even make HALF that. Can I come be your assistant?

[SignMeUp]

Thank you all for your input. I am so nervous. I have three interviews between now and Saturday morning, so I am trying to come up with some great questions to ask the candidates.

Do you have a killer question that you would recommend? Or do you give a scenario, and ask how they would respond?

I like the scenario suggestion. You can ask about practical, every day stuff that we do automatically, but actually takes an on-task brain that knows a lot about children, as well as regulations.

[Annalee]

I have one full time assistant, and a few subs that I use.

I agree with a lot of what daycare says, the most important is that they are not your friend. I am friendly with them, but no personal stuff.

I have struggled to put my foot down with certain things, b/c it is a bit awkward working so close with someone after having a "talk" with them about their work efforts.

When I first started hiring, I was looking for someone I "clicked" with, and I realized that was a bit of a mistake. I need someone who will WORK, not entertain me. I do prefer that we share similar beliefs and morals when it comes to dealing with the kids, but as long as they follow my directions and training, then I don't really care if we click.

I train them for about a week before I leave them alone with the kids, I will start by going into a different area of my house, and then maybe take a walk with some kids while I leaves others with them, then eventually leave the house.

I will say, it added a HUGE level of stress to this business, I now have a payroll company, a CPA, and an attorney, b/c I do not know the labor laws, and I didn't want to mess up.

I pay $9.50 until they get their CPR cert, and then $10 after that.

My assistant for my entire 22 plus years has been my mom. If she retires, I will cut my ratio back to 7 and work alone. There is NO ONE I would want to work with that many hours...it just comes natural with mom and I.

[TaylorTots]

$13 an hour? I'm in the wrong part of the profession .

I don't even make that! I don't even make HALF that. Can I come be your assistant?

How many kids do you care for? :confused:

I am small at 5 kids and only one is here FT. I still make $10 an hour after I take out for taxes and overhead expenses like groceries...

[daycare]

I will post my job description for you in a bit. Having a busy day.

Also I have daily check list. I will post those too

[TwinKristi]

$13 an hour? I'm in the wrong part of the profession .

I don't even make that! I don't even make HALF that. Can I come be your assistant?

She actually paid me $15/hr when I worked for her! And it really depends on the day but before my "expenses" I make about $200/day on average right now. But in Jan I was so slow I was only making $65/day and could take the DC kids with me! I don't pay someone to come in daily, it would just be if I had to take my kids to the dentist or for an appt. Closing would cost me $200 and piss parents off, so if I pay someone $26-39 cash a couple times a month it's worth it.

How many kids do you care for? :confused:

I am small at 5 kids and only one is here FT. I still make $10 an hour after I take out for taxes and overhead expenses like groceries...

I have no idea what I would have to calculate for overhead per day/hour, but on my busy days I make about $20/hr before expenses.

I will add that I live in a VERY high COL area and work mostly with infants and toddlers. I have one preschool aged girl that started this week but I don't know how long that will last, maybe til early June when school is out and she can start at a preschool. I have 4 FT and 1 PT and some drop-ins once or twice a month. Rent alone is $60/day. Add bills, food... It adds up quick! Even making what I make I couldn't afford to stay afloat without dh working FT as well. We barely survived the years I was a SAHM. For the first time I'm interviewing for future spots when these infants turn 2 and I have word of mouth referrals. It's really nice! My dh doesn't have to work so hard and we can actually save money!