Hiring Employees
Employees
Finding Helpers
In Self-Determination, you get to choose who helps you. You’re the boss! You can find helpers in many ways:
- Post ads online (like Indeed.com or Care.com)
- Ask at local schools or colleges
- Hire friends or family (but parents can’t be paid to work for their minor children)
- Ask at your church or social group
- Go to your local SDP advisory committee meetings
- Post in local community or Facebook groups
- Post at your favorite places (like coffee shops or gyms)
Independent Facilitators can help you find and hire people—it gets easier with practice.
Getting Employees set-up with your Financial Management Service
When you hire someone, they’ll need to fill out forms with your FMS.
You’ll also sign some papers as their employer.
Ask your FMS how their hiring process works.
Background Checks
In California, anyone who helps with personal care must have a background check.
- If your FMS uses the co-employer model, they usually require all helpers to get background checks.
- If you’re in the sole-employer model, you can decide if helpers who don’t provide personal care need one.
Your FMS will give you the forms and instructions. The employee pays for their background check.
Employees vs. Independent Contractors
Your FMS will help you determine if someone is an employee or an independent contractor, based on California’s ABC test.
Employees fill out timesheets and have taxes taken out of their pay. The Employer pays part of the state and federal taxes. The Employee will receive a W-2 at the end of the year.
Independent contractors send invoices and handle their own taxes. They pay both the employee and employer taxes. They will receive a 1099 at the end of the year if they earn more than $600 in the year.
IMPORTANT: California is very strict about how employees are classified, and there are fines. Your FMS is your partner in making sure that all labor laws are followed.
If you want more information on the California ABC Test, click here:
Service Agreements
It is important to have a written agreement with your helpers and service providers. This makes it clear what is expected from everyone involved.
The agreement should include:
- Pay rate
- Work hours
- Job duties
- Start date
- Any benefits (if offered)
If you use the co-employer model, your FMS is the legal employer and will provide employee agreements.
If you are in the sole-employer model, ask your FMS if they have a service agreement template you can use or you can create one yourself.