Attention all Facebook users!  I know there are tons of you out there.  It is important to remember that when looking for a job, you must protect yourself from the public.  Remember that what you put out into the universe will be received and a potential employer does not need to know how crazy your weekend was.  The following link will help you to ensure that your settings are safe.  Click here to learn more.

Thank you to Breedlove for sharing this new year’s news with us!

With the first month of the new year almost behid us, it’s time to look ahead to 2009 and what will hopefully be the beginning of renewed optimism and growth.

From a tax perspective, there are only three changes that your families and candidates need to be aware of:

Mileage Reimbursement Rate
Effective January 1, 2009, employers should reimburse employees at a rate of 55¢ per mile.  The mileage reimbursement rate is established by the IRS in an effort to cover the total cost of gasoline and automobile maintenance when an employee is required to use his/her own automobile while performing duties of the job (commuting to and from work does not count).  In July 2008, there was a mid-year adjustment from 52.5¢ per mile to 58.5¢ per mile in response to exorbitant gas prices.  Now that gas prices have returned to more normal levels, the ‘09 mileage reimbursement rate will adjust accordingly.

Social Security & Medicare Threshold
Effective in 2009, the threshold will increase from $1,600 to $1,700.  Employers who pay an individual less than $1,700 during the 2009 calendar year, will fall under the “Casual Babysitting Exemption” and, therefore, will not be subject to FICA taxes.

Minimum Wage
Effective July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 per hour.  Some states have higher minimum wages standards.  Families in those states must adhere to the higher standard.  For minimum wage standards in your state, check your state’s website or visit US Department of Labor website

Recently, a few examples have been brought to my attention about why agencies are helpful.  When you call The Help Company, you can be assured that any applicant that you meet has been interviewed in our office by at least two or three members of The Help Company, that references have been checked and that a thorough background check has been run.  Not only can an agency protect a family from a crazy applicant, but we watch out for our applicants too.  We spend countless hours counseling both clients and applicants about how to find the right match.  In fact, we pride ourselves on making lasting relationships between families and caretakers.

The following article is an extreme example of an experience that nanny had with a prospective employer.  Feel free to comment.

click here to read the article