Rewarding Work strives to help individuals, families and caregivers make excellent caregiving matches. One important aspect of this caregiving match is to make sure that all parties feel safe and secure in the hiring and employment process. We have put together a list of basic safety concerns to assist with this goal. We purposely created a shared list for both employers and workers, so that you can appreciate safety considerations from both perspectives.
Employer
- Conduct an in-depth interview with each candidate. Screening applicants on the phone should always be followed by a personal interview. When arranging an interview, consider your comfort level.
- Consider asking candidates to bring a photo id to the interview for verification purposes. Give them the information they may need when they arrive, such as where to park or which doorbell to ring. Make sure you trade phone numbers so you can reach each other in case of an emergency.
- Be specific about all of the tasks, skills, and schedules involved. Discuss compensation and payment schedules. Do not pay for services in advance. If you are paying privately for care, you may want to consider worker compensation insurance for your worker.
- Request several work references and personal references, and check them carefully. Verify the information provided, and ask all references about reliability, trustworthiness, punctuality, and the care provider's ability to handle stress.
- Conduct a criminal background check on any candidate you are serious about hiring. This is a standard part of the hiring process.
- Conduct your own online searches on candidates. Any information you find can help you decide whether or not you would like an individual to work for you. Search for public information or news articles, and search social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
- Even after you hire, continue to be involved and monitor your caregiver. If you are hiring care for a family member, make announced and unannounced visits to get a true picture of your caregiver and to let the caregiver know how involved you are with your family member's care.
- Trust your instincts! Always keep the lines of communication open and discuss concerns promptly with your caregiver.
Worker
- When agreeing to an interview, consider your comfort level. Some employers are willing to schedule interviews in a public place, such as a coffee shop. Many employers prefer that the interview take place in the home where you will be working. It is understandable to be nervous when entering someone’s home for the first time. Some applicants have a friend drive to the interview with them and wait in the car.
- Make sure that you ask for the employer’s first and last name, their home address and telephone number. Make sure that you are familiar with the area where they live before the interview. If you are driving, ask where you can park. If you are taking public transportation, confirm that their residence is close to a bus stop or train station. Make sure you trade phone numbers so you can reach each other in case of an emergency.
- Ask for specifics about all of the tasks, skills, and schedules involved. Discuss compensation and payment schedules. Find out when you will be paid and if you will be paid directly from the person who is hiring you; if the person hiring you receives state-funded services, payment may be handled through a fiscal intermediary.
- Be prepared to provide professional and personal references and to agree to a criminal background check. Criminal background checks should not be requested until the employer wishes to make you a job offer. Don’t be offended if an employer requests a criminal background check. This is a standard part of the hiring process.
- Conduct your own online searches on potential employers. Any information you find can help you decide whether or not you would like to work for this individual. Search for public information or news articles, and search social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- After you are hired, keep the lines of communication open. You may be caring for the employer directly or for a family member of the employer. In this case, expect announced and unannounced visits from involved family member.
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