Who hasn’t heard the stories about the Nanny stealing everything from petty cash to valuable jewelry, checks, and credit cards? These stories are rife, part of the American legend as more working mothers hire people to watch their kids. Manny will hire a Nanny on a reference from another Mom. Some will choose them from Nanny employment services.
Wherever you recruit them, it is essential today to conduct background checks on your Nanny applicant. Beside the Social Security Trace and criminal searches, if your Nanny is going to drive for you the MVR Motor Vehicle Driving Records Search is a must. Professional Reference verifications are also a consideration. Either conduct them yourself or have a background checking service conduct them for you. And, above all, make sure the reference is legitimate and not merely a friend of your applicant, eager to help her in finding work.
With the economic meltdown it is no secret a lot of people need money. When hiring a Nanny, you can select from the Nationwide Criminal Database Search, which includes the sexual offenders registry and the terror watch list. You can also conduct county criminal searches, which are the most accurate as records are pulled directly from the county courthouse.
When it comes to errant Nannies, I am someone who knows. Years ago, I had the dubious distinction of receiving a phone call from the Van Nuys Police Department. They had my son there. And his Nanny. They had just picked her up for shoplifting, and apparently was using him as the shill. She was hiding stolen merchandise in his stroller.
No need to go on about the Nannies who thought we were business partners and went into my wallet for some extra money. Then there were the ones who stole the jewelry and in one case the silver service. It goes on. My friends have stories, and, I’m sure, so do yours.
The thing in is if a background checking company proposes too many searches, then that may well be the case. Certain services realize they are catering to worried parents and tend to pile on the searches. So be aware.
Check them out before you hire.
