The Federal government has been providing suggestions and guidelines for return to work, travel, and daily activities to survive the COVID-19 pandemic – but you’ll find many states have adopted stricter stay-at-home policies for residents in regards to nanny services
These orders generally allow for essential workers to leave home and go to work. An essential worker is defined on an individual state-by-state basis. Still, they encompass typically what the state deems as a business or service that’s vital to ensuring the continuation of baseline services that benefit a community. These services include law enforcement and public safety, food production and distribution, healthcare, and emergency personnel.
Childcare centers and their essential status are determined on a state level. Many states have asked childcare centers to close. In contrast, others allow for a select few to remain open while providing recommendations for safety.
What about nanny services?
In some states, nannies are still allowed. But you need to check with your state and local authorities to determine what the most up-to-date status is regarding the option of nannies.
At the time of writing this article, most states will allow for in-home childcare services (nanny services) to continue. Some states such as California, Connecticut, Louisiana, and Michigan only allow in-home nannies for essential workers. Two states, Nevada and New Mexico, have deemed childcare non-essential unless there is an overriding medical issue.
Again, you need to read your local state requirements and directives. There are a few states that have implemented a stay-in-place order. However, local areas have been given governance to stipulate their own orders depending on the individual community’s needs.
Whether your state has passed “Stay-at-Home” or “Shelter-in-Place” orders, you need to follow their guidelines.
If you have a nanny and you are an essential worker
You should provide a letter to your nanny, including their full name, your full name, your place of employment, and an explanation of how you are an essential worker. This is a precaution in the event your nanny is stopped by police and needs to provide documentation of essential childcare services.
If you have a nanny and they are deemed a non-essential worker
Each employer-employee relationship is unique. If possible, you could offer paid time off to your employees, so they can stay home with their families and take care of their essential needs. You could also talk to your employer and discuss how this executive order is impacting your work hours. Ask for flexibility either by working from home or flexible working hours where you can secure your family in-home care.
If you can’t continue paying your nanny because you are losing your income, have the conversation as soon as possible to let your nanny know. Communicate a specific period to revisit the conversation as conditions change. Situations are shifting rapidly, and you may be able to reinstate or continue at a reduced rate, depending on your circumstances.
Keeping you and your nanny safe
There are several options you must consider during this time.
- Have your nanny take their shoes off and wash or sanitize hands immediately on arrival in the home.
- You should have a hand sanitizer at the entrance door and spread liberally throughout the house. Encourage your nanny to regularly keep good hygiene and encourage older children to do the same.
- Regularly disinfect your entrance door handles if you have had multiple visitors in the home.
- Make sure your nanny has hand sanitizer, masks, and wipes for when they leave the home with your children, even if they are just going to the playground.
- Regularly sanitize surfaces
- Help the children to sanitize or wash their hands regularly.
- Have your nanny follow the practices of health care workers and sanitize their hands after leaving and also change clothing and shower upon re-entering their own home.
- Speak to your nanny about social distancing.
- Make it clear and concise that if your nanny is unwell, she is not to come to the home. She should contact you immediately and keep you appraised of the illness, whether they are being tested and if there are any further concerns.
- Communicate with your nanny regularly to find out if she has had any contact with COVID-19. Make it clear that if any of their family members or close personal friends who they have had recent contact with become unwell, that they are to inform you immediately. Then you can discuss with other family members or health professionals to make an educated and informed decision going forward as to whether they should return to the home.
- Discuss with your nanny the plan of action if your children become sick with COVID like symptoms.
- The most common signs of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and trouble breathing. Some children will get a sore throat, congestion, and a runny nose. There may also be complaints of muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tiredness.
- Some kids are having symptoms caused by inflammation throughout the body, and this can take several weeks after they are infected.
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