Resources for California Domestic Employers

Guidance for All Domestic Employers

We know it can be overwhelming to understand what the best practices are when employing someone in your home. At Hand in Hand, we’re committed to providing resources and guidance so that every home in California can be a fair workplace. Thank you for doing your part.

Communicating with the Worker in Your Home

Open and respectful communication is at the heart of any good relationship. Below are some communication best practices for creating a positive employment relationship with the nanny, house cleaner, and home attendant that supports you in your home.

Supporting Immigrant Domestic Workers

We’ve created this guide to help you think about how you can support domestic workers — one third of whom are immigrants — and be the best employer you can be in the difficult times ahead.

How Employers can Support Immigrant Domestic Workers

Establishing Paid Time Off

Time off — including medical and sick leave — will ensure that your employee is rested and healthy and ready to do their job well.

Here are some guiding principles around offering paid time off:
For full-time employees, provide at least 5 paid sick days per year; and for part-time employees, 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.

For full-time employees, provide at least 2 weeks of paid vacation per year; and for part-time employees, 1 hour for every 20 hours worked.

Any unused vacation should be paid out as additional pay when the agreement comes up for an annual review or when the worker leaves the job- whichever the employee and employer agree to.

Provide the standard 8 paid government holidays or agreed upon holidays of the employee’s choice. If an employee agrees to work on any of these holidays, they should be compensated one-and-a-half times their usual hourly rate.

Try to provide at least 6 weeks of paid family or medical leave, with guaranteed employment upon return.

Guidance for Nanny Employers

Hiring

So you’ve decided that you are going to hire a nanny, congratulations! Check out our helpful Interview Tips and Tips for a Putting Together a Nanny Share in California to make the process successful.

Contracts/Agreements

Establishing a contract or written agreement is a fundamental part of a good working relationship with your nanny. Our sample work agreements are designed to guide you through the process and are meant to be customized to your needs.

Timesheets

Employers of domestic workers may use this timesheet template. Domestic workers work in private homes and are hired either directly by a family or through an agency. Domestic workers are nannies, childcare providers in private homes, homecare workers or attendants to people with disabilities or older adults, housecleaners, cooks and gardeners.

Domestic Work Time Sheet for Employers

Legal Requirements

California was one of the first states in the country to provide legal rights and protections to domestic workers! The documents below are to help you make sure you are complying with the law. Please note, these are the minimum requirements not best practices. For best practices, please refer to the work agreements above!

Health and Safety Information

Guidance for Home Attendant Employers

Hiring

Hiring for home care can be a complex process. People with disabilities, older adults, and their supporters must navigate an array of agencies, evaluate needs, and find qualified attendants. The process is often overwhelming, especially when individuals or families find themselves at the beginning of this journey. We’ve compiled a few resources to help you during the hiring process:

Contracts/Agreements

Establishing a contract or written agreement is a fundamental part of a good working relationship with the home attendant/s you employ. Our sample home attendant agreement is designed to guide you through the process; feel free to customize it so that it meets your needs.

Timesheets

Employers of domestic workers may use this timesheet template. Domestic workers work in private homes and are hired either directly by a family or through an agency. Domestic workers are nannies, childcare providers in private homes, homecare workers or attendants to people with disabilities or older adults, housecleaners, cooks and gardeners.

Domestic Work Time Sheet for Employers

Legal Requirements

California was one of the first states in the country to provide legal rights and protections to domestic workers! The documents below are to help you make sure you are complying with the law. Please note, these are the minimum requirements, not best practices. For best practices, please refer to the work agreements above!

Health and Safety Information

Guidance for House Cleaner Employers

Hiring

So you’ve decided that you are going to hire a house cleaner, congratulations! Check out our helpful interview tips to make the process successful.

Contracts/Agreements

Establishing a contract or written agreement is a fundamental part of a good working relationship with the house cleaner/s you employ. Our sample house cleaner agreement is designed to guide you through the process, and it includes options for people that employ house cleaners full-time; feel free to customize it so that it meets your needs.

Timesheets

Employers of domestic workers may use this timesheet template. Domestic workers work in private homes and are hired either directly by a family or through an agency. Domestic workers are nannies, childcare providers in private homes, homecare workers or attendants to people with disabilities or older adults, housecleaners, cooks and gardeners.

Domestic Work Time Sheet for Employers

Legal Requirements

California was one of the first states in the country to provide legal rights and protections to domestic workers! The documents below are to help you make sure you are complying with the law. Please note, these are the minimum requirements, not best practices. For best practices, please refer to the work agreement above.

Health and Safety Information