Common questions and answers
- Do you screen your caregivers?
- What happens if the caregiver I hired is not really suitable for us?
- Can I fire an incompetent employee?
- Can I ask my caregiver to work longer than agreed in the contract?
- Am I, as an employer, responsible if my employee becomes sick, has an accident, or is hospitalized or needs home recovery?
- Can I pay the caregiver in cash?
- Can our caregiver stay away from our house over the weekend or on the days when she has time off?
- We want our caregiver to come with us on vacation. We will pay for her trip but we want her to work while on the trip. Do we have to pay her?
Do you screen your caregivers?
Yes. We have on file all their references from previous employers, we have their educational credentials verified. We personally meet with most of them; if not in person, we talk to them over the phone, call their previous employers to verify the provided information. We have their police certificates on file too. We try to be as careful as possible.
What happens if the caregiver I hired is not really suitable for us?
If there are valid reasons for the problem, you may hire another foreign caregiver - the HRSDC will look at the reasons before they issue another validation. If you found the caregiver through us, there is no fee to replace the unsuitable caregiver. You should be aware that there is again waiting time involved in bringing another caregiver to Canada. You will have enough time to talk to the caregiver, communicate with her through e-mail or telephone conversation to get a feeling about her. It is important to ask pertinent questions before you make the decision.
Can I fire an incompetent employee?
Yes. If an employee does not carry out the duties as agreed to in the contract, you can give him or her required notice or pay in lieu of notice.
Can I ask my caregiver to work longer than agreed in the contract?
Yes, you can. However, you will have to pay her for the additional hours worked, or talk to her and negotiate time off for those hours. You cannot expect her to work 12 hours and pay her for 8 hours. If you ask her to stay home, she should be paid for those hours. The hours negotiated in the contract do not have to be regular - that's the character of the job. But you should stick to the agreed schedule. Of course, emergency situations happen and it's only natural that you want to be able to rely on your caregiver to step in - if your relationship with the caregiver is good and mutually respectful, you will have no problems.
Am I, as an employer, responsible if my employee becomes sick, has an accident, or is hospitalized or needs home recovery?
Your employee is entitled to sick leave as specified in provincial legislation. Do not force your employee to work if he or she is ill. Your employee should be covered under the required health and/or workers' compensation plan of the province or territory of work. Your responsibility would depend on what coverage is provided under these plans. Your employee may also be eligible to collect employment insurance sickness benefits.
Can I pay the caregiver in cash?
Yes, you can. You must keep exact records of the hours worked, if the caregiver is on hourly wages, and provide the caregiver with a statement of salary and deductions for each pay period.
Can our caregiver stay away from our house over the weekend or on the days when she has time off?
Yes, she can. Generally, she can leave the house every time she is not working. If you ask her to stay home, you must pay her unless you come to a mutually satisfactory agreement.
We want our caregiver to come with us on vacation. We will pay for her trip but we want her to work while on the trip. Do we have to pay her?
Yes, you have to pay her for the time when she is required to work. It will be your vacation, not her vacation.
- Agencies in Canada
- Male caregiver?
- Before you look abroad
- Before you sign a contract
- Well-meant tips
- Canada health plans
- Employment standards
- WCB
- Employment termination
- Questions and answers
- Nanny already in Canada
- Caregiver selection
- Your obligations
- Your responsibilities
