I wouldn't. Have you signed a care agreement with this person? Is she going to be paid legally or under the table? Room and board cannot, by law, be considered even partial payment.
As an employer have you setup how the accounting is going to be done with taxes, social security, etc withheld? Have you applied for a federal tax id number?
It's not only normal, it's not advisable, and it's not good practice...not at all. Find someone else or you're likely to be scammed. There's a reason why this person wants to be paid up front, but it's not for your benefit.
Well, yes, who WOULDN'T want to be paid a month ahead for a job you never did. Then you could quit on day two and start another job where you got paid for work you didn't do, couldn't you? I would just say no.
Kay, something on all this is just so odd. OK so she’s currently employed till EOM, right? Is it she is retiring from that job? & Is she retiring at FRA (full retirement age 66) for Social Security? or is she younger than FRA? and why is she looking for a live-in position?….. like is it that she does not have her own home or apt? Is she homeless?
Here’s what I’d be concerned about…. if she is drawing a retiremt from old job & is not yet FRA, she is limited as 2 the amount of income made from a new job for it to be untaxable. If she is asking for you to pay her so that it is unreported income, that will be an issue for both SSA & the IRS. I’m unclear as to if she’s balking to working with FICA, taxes and all properly reported.
On the housing situation, if she doesn’t have her own home or apt (and can show you she has a drivers license, mail going to this address) does this mean she’s moving in & living there 24/7? I’d suggest that you make it clear she cannot make this her new permanent address… if she did and got her DL to show it, she could be considered a tenant. It can be hard to get a tenant out, even if elder dies & house is up for sale.
State labor board can get quite picky on wage theft by those that hire live-ins. She cannot be “on call” 24/7. She has to have total time off (even if she’s just watching TV in her room) and you need 2 be able to show that she has a schedule that her wages are based on & w OT if need be. On her time off, you’ll need documentation on either another caregiver is hired & paid then or the schedule for which family member is there at the house completely to be the “on call” for the elder. You have to be solid on this as there’s going to be someone who knows about wage theft stuff and files a report w the State.
Also if she is going to be driving the elders car, contact the auto insurance Co and get her added on as an additional driver. And also ask your HO insurer as to having a rider added for workmans comp issues for the live in worker. If she hurts her back helping the elder or trips over a rug, you need Workmans Comp to help on costs.
Please do realize if you pay her in full at the start of next mo & she finds a better gig and quits mid month, your not seeing that $ back.
Uh, she just talked herself out of a job. That's completely out of line, so find someone else. This won't be the first problem you'll have with this "gal."
Have you ever in your life been paid for the work BEFORE you do the work? When you start a job pay day is after you begin the job not before. (often if you start mid month your first pay check would be the actual payday of the next month and you will get the pay you are due for the previous month at that time.) NEVER pay someone in advance. She can get paid either weekly so if she starts on Jan 2 she would be paid on the 9th. or She could get paid 2 times a month so her pay check would be given to her on the 16th (or there abouts) or She can get paid monthly so starting on Jan 2 her pay check would be Feb 1 or 2. Since this is private pay you can pay her as you want.
As an employer have you setup how the accounting is going to be done with taxes, social security, etc withheld? Have you applied for a federal tax id number?
Listen to and trust your gut instinct.
and why is she looking for a live-in position?….. like is it that she does not have her own home or apt? Is she homeless?
Here’s what I’d be concerned about…. if she is drawing a retiremt from old job & is not yet FRA, she is limited as 2 the amount of income made from a new job for it to be untaxable. If she is asking for you to pay her so that it is unreported income, that will be an issue for both SSA & the IRS. I’m unclear as to if she’s balking to working with FICA, taxes and all properly reported.
On the housing situation, if she doesn’t have her own home or apt (and can show you she has a drivers license, mail going to this address) does this mean she’s moving in & living there 24/7? I’d suggest that you make it clear she cannot make this her new permanent address… if she did and got her DL to show it, she could be considered a tenant. It can be hard to get a tenant out, even if elder dies & house is up for sale.
State labor board can get quite picky on wage theft by those that hire live-ins. She cannot be “on call” 24/7. She has to have total time off (even if she’s just watching TV in her room) and you need 2 be able to show that she has a schedule that her wages are based on & w OT if need be. On her time off, you’ll need documentation on either another caregiver is hired & paid then or the schedule for which family member is there at the house completely to be the “on call” for the elder. You have to be solid on this as there’s going to be someone who knows about wage theft stuff and files a report w the State.
Also if she is going to be driving the elders car, contact the auto insurance Co and get her added on as an additional driver.
And also ask your HO insurer as to having a rider added for workmans comp issues for the live in worker. If she hurts her back helping the elder or trips over a rug, you need Workmans Comp to help on costs.
Please do realize if you pay her in full at the start of next mo & she finds a better gig and quits mid month, your not seeing that $ back.
When you start a job pay day is after you begin the job not before.
(often if you start mid month your first pay check would be the actual payday of the next month and you will get the pay you are due for the previous month at that time.)
NEVER pay someone in advance.
She can get paid either weekly so if she starts on Jan 2 she would be paid on the 9th.
or
She could get paid 2 times a month so her pay check would be given to her on the 16th (or there abouts)
or
She can get paid monthly so starting on Jan 2 her pay check would be Feb 1 or 2.
Since this is private pay you can pay her as you want.
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