Background Checks and Employee Screening for Your Nanny

The employee screening process is more critical today than ever before. Due to its importance, companies of all sizes and in all industries are spending money on this expense. As somebody hiring a household worker, you should take the same steps to keep your family, and home, safe.

Why You Shouldn’t Skip a Background Check

While a background check won’t always be 100% reliable, it will at least help you confirm that the person you are speaking to is who they say they are. In addition to verifying the identity of your potential new employee, a background check will also look into criminal records and motor vehicle reports, two things that are especially important to know if you are interviewing for a nanny. With some families choosing nanny’s who have criminal records or lying about credentials, conducting a background check can help save you from those issues.

How to Get a Background Check

There are many options online for getting a background check for a nanny or household employee. When choosing a company, you want to make sure that they are reputable and looking for as much information as possible when completing the check. A good background check can be costly, but when you are considering the safety and well-being of your family and home, it’s worth the money. Another tip is to run a background check on yourself, so you know what type of information to expect, and you’ll know if the accurate is information for yourself or not.

If you choose SurePayroll for your nanny payroll needs, you have the option to purchase a variety of employment screening services including background checks, drug screening, and behavioral assessments.

What to do After the Background Check?

If the results from the background check seem clear, you’ve checked references, and overall feel good about this new addition to your household, you are ready to become an official household employer. Your next task will be understanding the nanny tax and making sure that you are staying compliant by government laws and accurately paying your household employee. Most new household employers think that they can pay under the table, but this can lead to many problems for both you and your employee. Our guide to nanny taxes helps to explain the tax more. If you’re still confused and don’t have the time to process payroll on your own, our online payroll services can help you stay compliant with the nanny tax and pay your household employee correctly.

Bottom Line

While you might feel that conducting a background check on a nanny or household employee seems a bit too serious, it’s important to remember that you are trusting this person with your children and overall home. Double checking never hurts, and paying for the extra peace of mind can save your family from devastating scenarios.