Learn more about what you can do support the nannies, home attendants, and house cleaners who work for you during the coronavirus crisis:
Fair Practices for Employers
While all of us are experiencing loss as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, we know that some people in our lives will be hurt more than others. The domestic workers in our lives are the most vulnerable during this pandemic.
Many are no longer able to come to our homes to support us and our families. These are the workers who, day in and day out, care for our children and assist seniors and people with disabilities. They clean our homes. These workers are predominantly women of color and immigrants. Not only are they excluded from federal labor protections, they are being left out of pandemic relief aid available to other workers.
We are asking you to continue to pay workers who are no longer coming to your home. We know this is not a small thing to ask. Most of us feel economic anxiety at this time. But if you’ve counted on workers in your home, this is the moment to show them they can count on you. Even if you can provide financial support for only a finite period of time, there are other ways to help. All of us must step up and show this country’s domestic workers that they are valued and deserving of care.
For resources on how to be a fair employer during the coronavirus crisis, check out the toolkits and blog posts below. If you have a question, contact us at info@domesticemployers.org.
Agreement for Nanny work during COVID
Use this checklist if you are an employer thinking about hiring or re-hiring a nanny in your home during COVID-19.
Nanny Employer FAQ’s During COVID
Answers to some of the most-asked questions surrounding hiring or re-hiring a nanny during COVID-19.
House Cleaner Employer Checklist During COVID-19
Use this checklist if you are an employer thinking about hiring or re-hiring a house cleaner in your home during COVID-19.
Nanny Employer Checklist During COVID-19
Use this checklist if you are an employer thinking about hiring or re-hiring a nanny in your home during COVID-19.
Tips for managing attendants/caregivers during the coronavirus crisis
This guide, created by Hand in Hand and Senior and Disability Action, offers ideas, recommendations and thoughts for navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as safely as possible.
How to be a fair employer during the coronavirus crisis – MASSACHUSETTS TOOLKIT
How to be a fair employer to domestic workers in Massachusetts during the COVID-19 outbreak, including best practices and current labor policy.
COVID-19 Benefits Eligibility & FAQs – New York
This guide will help you understand the benefits available, eligibility guidelines and how to practice fair employment during the Coronavirus pandemic in New York.
Dear Neighbor, Employer to Employer
During this coronavirus pandemic, let’s recognize the significant role that domestic workers play in our lives. Share our letter encouraging fair employment practices with your neighbors.
Difficult Conversations in the Age of Coronavirus
Talking to the people who work in your home about coronavirus can be difficult, but this guide filled with some of our tips on how to approach difficult conversations, and some specific conversation topics and starters will help!
Shelter in Place? Stay-At-Home? What it Means for Domestic Workers & Employers
How to take good care of yourself, your employee, and the people you love during shelter in place orders in your community.
Join Hand in Hand
While we may be isolating ourselves to help flatten the infection rate, we can each take action, collectively, to mitigate the economic impact of the virus on our community and those most vulnerable. Hand in Hand is providing resources and tools to support domestic employers who recognize their home is somebody’s workplace and are committed to fair employment practices. We are also informing employers of domestic workers about the government policies we’re fighting for that will build a care infrastructure that works for all of us – domestic workers and the broader community.
Join Hand in Hand as a monthly dues paying member to be a part of our work to create care communities that recognize our interdependence.
Resources for Workers
National Domestic Workers Alliance created this webpage of resources to support domestic workers with trusted information.
