Completing a reference check on a potential nanny is a great way to fill in information gaps that may exist in a candidate’s performance history. Good references should have fairly recent experience and be available to speak on the phone. Important questions should pertain to length of time on the job, job duties and responsibilities, age of the child or children, why the nanny is no longer employed, and level of satisfaction with the job performance. Questions about communication, reliability, and consistency are also important, but it is critical to avoid questions that could be grounds for discrimination, such as those pertaining to age, religion, disabilities, sex, class, and/or pregnancy status.
