DEVELOPING A WORK AGREEMENT WITH A NANNY IN CALIFORNIA - Homecare/Attendant Workers Template

Sep 1, 2026

Guide for hiring a nanny in California, helping domestic employers strengthen clear, respectful communication and develop a written work agreement. Covers key steps: reviewing relevant California labor laws for domestic workers, agreeing on start date, schedule, emergency contacts and worksite location, setting wages and legally required policies, establishing open check-ins, and creating a healthy, non-toxic workplace with health-emergency protocols. Includes ongoing resources and a legal disclaimer.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatDOCX

Pages30

Reading Time11 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Getting Started

Developing a Work Agreement

Review California’s Labor Laws

Outline Basic Information

Establish Open and Respectful Communication

Define Wages and Human Resources Policies

Create a Healthy Workplace

Develop a Truly Fair Work Agreement

Put it in Writing & Review Together

Ongoing Support and Resources

Disclaimer

A Guide to DEVELOPING A WORK AGREEMENT WITH A NANNY IN CALIFORNIA INTRODUCTION Are you planning to hire someone to provide nanny services in your home? Do you already employ someone to provide nanny services and want to improve your employment arrangement? If so, this guide will help you strengthen clear and respectful communication between you and your employee and develop a clear work agreement that specifies the relevant terms of employment as well as other important information. GETTING STARTED Your process for communicating with your intended or current employee is as important as the work agreement itself. Take enough time to establish rapport, build understanding and come to agreement about the job. You should plan on meeting at least twice to discuss the various aspects of this agreement, and in doing so, come to know each other better. This sample work agreement is intended to assist you with this process. The agreement supports widely recognized best practices as well as notes when California law applies and must be followed. Follow the steps below and customize your agreement so that it reflects your particular employment needs and preferences, as well as those of your employee. DEVELOPING A WORK AGREEMENT Review California’s labor laws pertaining to domestic workers For relevant California Laws summarized see Hand in Hand’s legal fact sheets, which can be found at HYPERLINK "https://domesticemployers.org/resource/california-legal-faq-checklist/" \h https://domesticemployers.org/resource/california-legal-faq-checklist/. Additionally, domestic employers are required to provide their employee with notice of legal requirements before the start of employment. See the NOTICE TO EMPLOYEE form from the Labor Commissioner at HYPERLINK "https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/lc_2810.5_notice.pdf" \h https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/lc_2810.5_notice.pdf. Outline Basic Information Agree upon a start date and schedule. Record emergency contact information and worksite location. Establish Open and Respectful Communication Commit to building a working relationship with clear expectations, open communication, and mutual trust. Establish mutual priorities and rules, work responsibilities, and a time for check-ins and evaluations. Define the Standard Wages and Human Resources Policies Required by Law Establish hourly rate, overtime policy, meal and rest breaks, pay schedule, record keeping, reimbursement policies, workers’ compensation, paid sick leave and the termination policy. Create a Healthy Workplace Ensure that your employee health care needs are met, make your home a non-toxic and safe workplace, and establish COVID-19 or other health emergency protocols. Develop a Truly Fair Work Agreement Review the appendix and adopt additional practices and benefits to go beyond the requirements of the law to achieve a truly fair work agreement. These include establishing regular check-ins, providing fair pay including an end of year bonus, supporting your employee’s health, providing paid time off including vacation and paid holidays, as well as planning for the end of the employment relationship. Put it in Writing & Review Together Hand in Hand’s sample agreement will help you create a clear and equitable employment relationship that complies with the California law. If your employee doesn’t read English, you should translate the documents into your employee’s primary language. Review all documents together and sign. ONGOING SUPPORT AND RESOURCES Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network offers resources, workshops and webinars to domestic employers on how to make their homes fair workplaces. Hand in Hand is a sister organization to the National Domestic Workers Alliance and brings employers together with workers to improve domestic worker protections as well as advocate for widespread policy changes so that everyone can afford and access the care they need. To get involved visit us at HYPERLINK "http://domesticemployers.org/" \h www

FAQs

What is the purpose of this work agreement guide for nanny employment in California?

It helps domestic employers communicate clearly and develop a written work agreement that specifies employment terms and important related information for the employee and the household.

Which California-law topics does the guide tell employers to review?

It advises reviewing labor laws for domestic workers and ensuring the required notice of legal requirements is provided before employment begins.

What should be included in the wages and human resources section of the agreement?

It recommends setting the hourly rate, overtime policy, meal and rest breaks, pay schedule, record-keeping, reimbursement policies, workers’ compensation, paid sick leave, and the termination policy.

Sep 1, 2026

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