Sidekick FAQs
1. WHAT DOES A SIDEKICK DO?
We line up Sidekicks to help busy households in the areas of errands, laundry, simple meal preparation, household projects, household organization, and household management.
2. DO SIDEKICKS PROVIDE CHILD CARE IN ADDITION TO HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANCE?
No, Sidekicks are not permitted to care for children. However, Sidekick’s sister agency, The Nanny Network, places in-home child care providers with families who also need moderate household help. If you meet the requirements for working as a nanny, please complete an application if you’re not already registered!
3. DO SIDEKICKS CLEAN?
Our Sidekicks do not provide deep cleaning services, however they can help keep a house tidy and do household chores. Examples include taking out the garbage, loading/unloading the dishwasher, sweeping the floor, wiping down counter tops, doing laundry, light ironing, and vacuuming.
4. WHAT TYPES OF JOBS DO YOU PLACE SIDEKICKS INTO?
We offer full-time, part-time and temporary Sidekick positions. Our temporary positions can last anywhere from 3-hours to 6+months. Households also engage Sidekick services for seasonal and project-based help.
5. ARE SIDEKICKS EMPLOYEES OF THE AGENCY OR OF THE HOMEOWNER?
Sidekick Shorty’s, who work for 2 months or less, are W-2 employees of the agency (and are eligible for Same Day Pay!). Sidekick Steady’s, on the other hand, who are hired to work regularly for a specific household, are the employee of the homeowner, and to that end, are paid directly by the homeowner.
6. WHAT IS THE COMPENSATION RATE FOR SIDEKICKS?
In Baltimore, Sidekick Shorty’s are W-2 employees of the agency and make $19+ per hour (pre-tax). Sidekick Steady’s, on the other hand, make $28-38 per hour (pre-tax) and negotiate their hourly rate directly with the homeowner (the “employer”).
In Washington, DC, Sidekick Shorty’s make $20+ per hour (pre-tax) and are paid by the agency as a W-2 employee. Sidekick Steady’s earn between $30-40 per hour (pre-tax) as a household employee, depending on the ongoing job description and the rate that is agreed upon between you and the homeowner.
7. THERE CAN BE A LOT OF DRIVING WITH SOME SIDEKICK POSITIONS, SO HOW DOES THE PAY WORK? WHAT HOURS ARE SIDEKICKS PAID FOR?
Sidekicks are not paid for their commute to and from the job; however, the time spent driving to take care of various errands is paid.
8. WHAT DOES IT COST SIDEKICKS TO WORK WITH YOUR SERVICE?
Nothing! There is no cost for Sidekicks to work with our agency.
9. WHAT DO I DO IF A HOMEOWNER ASKS ME TO DO A TASK THAT I FEEL IS OUTSIDE THE BOUNDS OF SIDEKICK DUTIES?
We do our best to educate our Sidekicks and clients on what a Sidekick does and does not do. There can be a number of chores/tasks related to running a household, so it is impossible for us to provide a comprehensive list of requests that may be asked of you.
As a Sidekick, it is your job to to help with reasonable household tasks to lighten the load. If a client asks you to do something that you feel is unreasonable, give us a call so we can talk it through. Generally, if you are asked to perform a “light” housekeeping task (for example), it is reasonable. However, if heavy duty cleaning is asked, or another request that seems outside the scope of your services, let them know and let us know. In this situation, you could offer to help the homeowner by researching other companies/options for them to consider.
10. DO I HAVE TO HAVE ALL-DAY AVAILABILITY TO BE A SIDEKICK?
No, you do not. Sidekick was designed to offer flexible household support and works to provide part-time opportunities to those who only have part-time availability. Full-time jobs are available but are not the only option.