The primary legal responsibility of a nanny ensures the safety of children. They must comply with state regulations, which may include first aid and CPR certificates, as well as emergency plans such as fires or tornadoes. In addition, the home or centre must comply with health and fire safety rules, including smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Workers must know each child`s relevant medical history and be prepared to prevent and provide first aid for the resulting health problems. These include conditions such as asthma or diabetes and allergies to food, medication, or bee stings. If the nanny is carrying children, the car must also contain appropriate booster cars and booster seats. If driving is one of the employee`s duties, the daycare or family may inspect the employee`s conduct. Child care workers earned a median annual wage of $21,170 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. At the top end, child care workers earned $18,680 at the 25th percentile, meaning that 75% earned more than that amount. The 75th percentile salary is $25,490, which means 25% earn more. In 2016, 1,216,600 people were employed as child care workers in the United States.

Child care workers are subject to minimum wage legislation. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 as of January 2013. Nineteen states as well as the District of Columbia have a minimum wage higher than the federal wage. Employees receive state wages if they are above the federal minimum. Employees who work more than 40 hours per week must receive one and a half times their regular wages for each hour worked in excess of 40. Child care providers must report suspected child abuse or neglect to law enforcement or child protection services (CPS), even if they have no concrete evidence of maltreatment. Some physical signs of violence include frequent or unexplained bruising, dental trauma or fractures. In addition, the child may show signs of behavior such as fear of adults or reluctance to go home, and aggressive or destructive behavior.

Child care providers should also look for signs of emotional or emotional abuse, including speech disorders, eating disorders or ulcers, and withdrawal from social interaction. Failure to report alleged abuse can result in fines or criminal charges, depending on state law. A child care provider does not have to be paid for a meal break “in good faith” as long as the break meets certain requirements of the FLSA. The break must last more than 30 minutes and the employee cannot perform work-related tasks during the break. For example, if the employee has lunch with the children, this does not count as an unpaid break. States like Colorado, Washington, and Massachusetts require a 30-minute meal break for employees, although in Massachusetts, an employee can voluntarily waive their break. In Colorado, an employee who still eats at work is paid for her time. The first step in choosing a child care provider is to determine if potential providers have a license from your state or local government. Licensing does not guarantee quality; However, it establishes minimum requirements and ensures that programs are monitored to ensure that they comply with these requirements.

If your child care program is one of the types of programs listed above, your condition may already require extensive background checks. Learn more about your state`s requirements by visiting the state-by-state resource map or calling your local child care resource and referral agency (CCR&R) for more information. Child care providers must meet their state`s education and certification requirements. Some states have no education requirements, while others require a high school diploma or a diploma in child-rearing. Head Start child care providers must have an associate degree or diploma in child rearing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Some states and employers also require certification, such as the Council for Professional Recognition`s Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. Most states allow certain child care providers to be exempt from child care licensing laws. Often, these providers are parents of the children they care for, care for a very small number of children, or operate only a few hours a day. Your state`s licensing authority can provide information about the types of suppliers in your state that are exempt from licensing. Providers who are exempt from licensing must continue to meet health and safety requirements if one of the children in their care receives financial assistance for child care.

Preschool teachers: Bona fide teachers in preschools and preschools may be considered “professionals” to be exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements under the same conditions as an elementary or secondary school teacher. Teachers are exempted if their main task is to teach, teach or lecture in educational institutions in this activity. It should be noted that, although a nursery school may carry out certain educational activities, pre-school staff whose main task is to attend to the physical needs of the children in the school would not normally meet the conditions for exemption as a teacher under the regulations in force. Educational, health and other requirements for adults working in the child care program A child care worker is exempt from overtime and minimum wage requirements if she is a teacher in the daycare. To qualify as a teacher or professional, their primary responsibilities must be to teach children in some way, such as teaching them or giving lectures. If her main task in daycare is to ensure the well-being of a child, she does not count as an exempt employee.