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Our nanny will be required to stay overnight on occasion when both parents are out of town. How is this time compensated?

Kathleen Webb of HomeWork Solutions Inc. advises families overnight stays are typically compensated with additional payroll.

Families occasionally find that both parents will be unavailable and will require that the nanny stay overnight in their home as the primary caregiver. This is particularly common in single parent households. Typically, advises Ms. Webb, the nanny is compensated for overnights on a flat rate basis.

Families who anticipate the need for this type of occasional additional nanny services are urged to negotiate this rate at the time of employment and memorialize the rate in the written Work Agreement.

The overnight rate varies tremendously, as do nanny salaries. Ms. Webb reports that the overnight rate is in fact related to the nanny's salary and is typically 1 - 1.5 times the nanny's typical day rate. The overnight compensation will range from $100 - $250, with the average in the $125 - $150 range per night.

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