Nanny&Me

When it comes to paying your nanny, it's hard to know where to start. If you're not a business owner and have never had the responsibility of paying employees, then this probably doesn't seem all that self evident. Here are the basics:

What You Need to Know:

Your nanny needs to be paid right?...RIGHT. You can pay your nanny bi-weekly or monthly and I'll get to payment methods further down in the post.

It is your responsibility to deduct income tax, CPP, and EI from your nanny's pay. It is also your responsibility to make employer contributions of CPP and EI, and to submit these along with the employee deductions to the CRA monthly. You must do this by the 15th of the month for each month prior (i.e. you must make your remittances for February's payroll by March 15).

You will need to obtain a business number from the CRA in order to pay your nanny, which you can do quite quickly online (see my post on this HERE).

Keep records! File away your remittance summary (whether it be via a software that you use, or the CRA calculator summary...I'll get to that decision later) and make sure that you have access to your payslips (whether it be in the form of your bank's direct deposit record, or the confirmation of a cheque deposit). Not only are records required by the CRA, but that way when you go to create a T4 slip at the end of the tax year, you will have all of the information readily available. You are required by the CRA to keep copies of your records for 6 years.

After weeks of waiting for our nanny to receive her NBI (National Bureau Investigation), it's finally come, and she has submitted her work permit application! We are so grateful that she was so organized and had all of the documents ready to go (except the ones like the NBI that she needed our positive LMO in order to get) and kept us so well updated!

She submitted the application today and they told her 4-5 months for processing so everyone cross your fingers that they process it as quickly as possible! Our dream timeframe would be mid-February for her arrival, but even mid-April would be great!

A lot of people want to know what timeframe to expect when hiring/sponsoring a nanny from overseas. Here is the run down of our timelines:

Job advertising, recruitment, and candidate selection:
8 WEEKS

August 1: Posted job ad to Facebook, Kijiji, and in local community
August 1-8: Review applications
August 10-13: 1st round interviews
August 14: 2nd round interviews
August 15: Obtain business number
August 15 - September 3: Wait on arrival of PD7A from CRA
September 3: Create job bank ad
September 17: Job bank account validation and job posted
September 22: Job bank ad re-posted due to job bank error
October 6: Job bank posting close
October 6: Final candidate selection

LMIA application:
3 WEEKS

October 6: LMIA application submission
October 7: Mail original copies of contract to nanny (takes 7-10 business days)
October 20: Verbal approval of positive LMO (usually ESDC will have a case manager contact you to ask you a few questions about your application and provide you with the verbal approval)
October 24: Official positive LMO letter received in the mail
October 25: Scan and email copy of positive LMO, and financial documents to nanny (takes 7-10 business days)

Document preparation (by nanny) and work permit application:
4 WEEKS

October 26: Compile documents already obtained (ones that she didn't need LMO to apply for, including Work Permit Application, Family Information Form, Cenomar, Highschool Diploma, Positive LMO, Proof of Employer's Financial Ability, Employment Contract, Birth Certificate, Reference Letters, Police Certificates)
October 27-31: Undergo medical assessment & apply for NBI certificate
November 1-16: Wait on arrival of medical assessment and NBI certificate
November 17: Submit work permit application (told by Canadian Embassy that current processing time is 4-5 months. The CIC currently has 6 months posted on their website, only time will tell...)

A pause for words from Dr. Seuss:

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.



Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. 
Everyone is just waiting. 

Work Permit Application Approval:
17 WEEKS

November 17: Submit visa application
March 11: Nanny receives request to submit her passport to Canadian Visa Application Centre
March 16: Nanny submits her passport to Canadian Visa Application Centre
March 17: Nanny receives invitation to attend free pre-departure orientation seminar on living and working in Canada
March 20: Visa approved! (and nanny gives 1-month notice to her current employer)
March 24: Nanny goes to collect her passport and documents from the Canadian Visa Application Centre

Final Steps:
4 WEEKS

April 2: Flight booked (by me)
April 23: Nanny arrives!


Total timeframe for overseas sponsorship from start to finish: 
8 months and 3 weeks

Finished Product 

My first kick at the can. This one went to my hubby's office.

My third and final one for my home office area.

The Idea

As we prepare our home for the arrival of our nanny, we are concurrently preparing for my return to work. This craft project served two purposes: 1) to customize my work-from-home space, and 2) to add a fun and colorful decor piece to the nanny's bedroom. I will be working from home three days per week and it's very important to create a conducive work-from-home space which includes a quiet area away from where my little guy will be spending his indoor time with our nanny. I wanted a space that would inspire focus and drive my work ethic, as such, creating a little office space downstairs was a perfect fit. In addition to the one for my office space, I've been working hard to brighten up the nanny's bedroom, and this seemed like such a fun contribution to the space. When I saw this idea, I fell in love with it! My husband saw me putting together the materials and decided that he'd also like one for his office, so a third one is in the works.

How-To

This one's another simple and fast project that looks awesome! You'll need a clear desk pad from Ikea, strong glue, wrapping paper of your choice, and a few items from around the house (scissors, heavy books, newspaper).

How simple are those materials?!

Start by laying out some newspaper on the surface where you'll be working. Next roll out your wrapping paper. Place the desk pad on top of the wrapping paper and line them up. I used the wall and the edge of the desk I was working on to provide a clear and easy-to-follow grid for lining up the paper to the desk pad. Flip the desk pad over and brush on a coat of glue. I used Elmer's No-Wrinkle Rubber Cement. I have heard of crafters using spray adhesive, and was actually hoping to use PVA paper glue, but couldn't get my hands on any at Michael's so I went with Elmer's and hoped for the best. I'm not sure if the PVA might have provided an even better seal, but the Elmer's worked pretty well.


Press down firmly on the pad and hold. Cut around the edge that allows you to separate the roll of wrapping paper from the piece being used, but leave the other edges to trim later.

Flip the pad over carefully and press down on the paper, smoothing it out from one side to the other to remove air bubbles. Place heavy books down to aide a tight seal and catch up on your favourite TV show (with a yummy snack) while the glue dries.

Bark Thins and Parenthood (my second favourite show)

Once the glue is dry, apply a thick coat of glue around the edges (by separating the paper from the pad and running your brush inside) and the corners, put the heavy books back and let dry. Once that coat is dry, you can cut out around the edges (I used scissors the first time around, but then switched to using an x-acto knife for the second one and had MUCH better results) and voila...your very own custom desk pad with your favourite pattern and colours!

This one was my 2nd go round for our nanny's bedroom.

Cost & Materials 

Clear desk pad: Ikea - $9.99
Wrapping paper: Homesense - $5.99
Elmer's Glue: Michael's - $4.99

Total Cost - $21 (but you can cut this cost down even more by finding wrapping paper on sale and using whatever spray adhesive or clear craft glue you have around the house).

Other Materials



Scissors or x-acto knife
Heavy books
Newspaper
Clips for securing corners

From time to time it's suggested to me that readers might like to know a bit more about the person behind my blog. While I'm not sure I'm a particularly fascinating person, I have detailed a bit about me and my life below.

Some basics about me and my family

I'm MARRIED to the LOVE my LIFE, Michael or "Mikey" as I call him.

September 2010. *Kim Lovell Photography

We have a DOG, named ORLY. She's a very sweet cream-colorer golden retriever.

*Kim Lovell Photography

Before Orly, I had a FUR BABY named KAESEY Parker who was the light of my life. He passed away last spring.

*Kim Lovell Photography

Mike and I have a SON, Logan. We love him to bits and pieces.

We LIVE in the BEACHES in Toronto. Well sort of...I grew up just down the road from where we live now (which is just outside of the area, but still walking distance to everything). We love our neighbourhood; the community, the shops and restaurants, the dogs, the pedestrian lifestyle, the boardwalk, and the beach.


Digging Deeper

I LOVE animals. My husband calls me a "friend to all creatures". I'm vegan (...mostly. I have been vegetarian for twenty years, vegan for the past 13 of those, but more recently I have become a bit more laid back about it).

I have a horrible FEAR of the dark and am horrified that I might pass it along to little Logan. I've been working to resolve it, but phobias are hard!

I am a POSITIVE person. Generally speaking, I have an enthusiastic (thanks to Youth Leadership Camps Canada) approach to life; I'm excitable, chatty, outgoing, and friendly.

DIY is one of my favourite hobbies. From building decks to tiling kitchen back splashes, home improvement projects make my heart smile. I've recently been getting into crafting projects, but my passion lies with the real physical labor...laying a new flagstone pathway, building a shed, installing a new kitchen.

Favourite things about my typical week

SUNDAY dinners with my FAMILY. My family (with the exception of my brother and his wife who live in Scotland) all live in the same neighbourhood (pretty lucky I'd say!) and we get together at my parents' house (where we grew up) every Sunday for dinner. We eat, we visit, we laugh at the babies. It's a wonderful home cooked meal and a great start to our week.

Just kidding (this is a hint about my favourite show)...but capturing a photo at our Sunday dinners would be chaos!

My FAVORITE mommy baby PROGRAM, MommyRok at Boulderz Climbing Centre!


Other programs and activities that I love/recommend are:

Cirque-ability's BabyCirque, MommyCirque, and MommyAerial
Toronto Yoga Mama's Yoga Babies
Swimming at Regent Park Aquatic Centre
Toronto Public Library's Baby Time

WALKING. I probably walk about 25-30 kilometres each week. My husband and I find walking is our favourite quality time. We enjoy changing it up; we find there's always something new to see if you look.


I enjoy giving back

I DONATE monthly. We focus our efforts on L'Arche Toronto and UNITY Charity.

I VOLUNTEER. I sit on the board of Extend-A-Family (an organization that fosters community for youth with disabilities) and I deliver our local Beach Metro paper.


The more professional stuff

I LOVE school. I have a Diploma in Outdoor Recreation Management from Capilano University, a BA in Disability Studies with a Minor in Organizational Leadership from Ryerson University...and I have a few more plans up my sleeve (maybe an MPA or MBA with non-profit specialization, or maybe a Masters in Critical Disability Studies).

I am a committed NON-PROFIT professional and have been for over a decade. My specialties include: organizational development, project management, and business/fund development.

I am PASSIONATE about WRITING. I have always been an avid writer, but I only began to get more serious about my writing as I was working through my degree at Ryerson University. I plan on doing a lot more writing, but so far I've had articles published in:

Oh Baby! Magazine
Pink and Blue Magazine (starting as a regular writer soon!)
Vision, Passion, Action - School of Disability Studies, Ryerson University
The Elm Life Blog
Nanny&Me

Fun facts

I do ALL of my GROCERIES on FOOT.

I can HIT an 80MPH FASTBALL.

Around the house, I go by "MONKEY".

Until I was about 13 years old, I MISSPELLED by middle NAME ("Alize" instead of "Elyse").

Finished Product


The Idea

I love the idea of providing our nanny with the opportunity to manage her own time. I don't like being micro-managed and I'm sure our nanny wouldn't either. The commonly used daily, weekly, monthly task list approach is a great one because it enables your nanny to manage their own time, while communicating the household tasks that they've completed. This ensures that you're not left wondering what is and isn't being done each day, while still giving your nanny the freedom to manage their own time.

Our nanny will only be working 30 hours each week (since we have lots of flexibility and work-from-home in our schedules), and of course we want our son to be her first priority, so some weeks when she works certain timeframes where he doesn't nap during her work time, then we don't expect cleaning to get done, and other weeks where he may nap twice during her working hours one day, then we'd expect more household tasks to get done. As such, having a central task list board is a great solution for our family.

How-To

This project is very simple and fast, but the finished product looks great! All you need is a clear-backed floating frame of your choice, dry erase markers, and access to a printer.

Start by jotting down tasks that you'd like done daily (such as doing the dishes, tidying up toys etc.), weekly (such as laundry, vacuuming etc.), and monthly (such as washing windows, dusting etc.). Of course these tasks and correlated timeframes will be unique to your family's needs.

Create a word document (or word processing program of your choice) with your lists. Using a wide margin will fit most horizontal floating frames. I used 48pt font for the timeframe heading, and 14pt font for the bullet list.


Print out the lists, cut them to fit the frame, and place them in, and that's it! For an added touch of fun, you can use funky tape to frame the printouts.

Your nanny can use a dry erase marker to check off tasks as they are done, and you can also draw a heading (or footer) on the board with either the dry erase marker, or a permanent marker (use a stencil if you're doing it this way). You could draw a straightforward title such as, "Household Tasks" or go with something more creative such as, "Have We Said Thank You Today?"

Cost & Materials



3 photo clear floating photo frame: Kitchen Stuff Plus - $18 (I was hoping to find one at the dollar store, but wasn't able to find one that I liked)
Dry erase marker: Staples - already owned (but cost $1.89)
Funky tape (optional): Staples - already owned (but cost $3.89)

Total cost - $18

Other Materials

Scissors
Tape


HAPPY DIY-ing!