General Safety
What type of precautions does Care.com take help maintain a safe community?
We take certain precautions to help maintain a safe community. For example, we may check certain member information against various databases and other sources for criminal or other inappropriate activity. In addition, our dedicated safety team reviews profiles for suspicious and inappropriate content and investigates job posts, profiles, and messages that are flagged by our members as objectionable. If based on these activities we determine a member may be unsafe or inappropriate to participate in Care.com we will terminate the member’s participation.
While we view these safety precautions as important, any screening of a member and his or her information by Care.com is limited and should not be taken as complete, accurate, or conclusive of the member’s suitability as an employer or caregiver. Members are solely responsible for selecting an appropriate employer or caregiver for themselves or their family, and employers are solely responsible for obtaining and reviewing identity, verification, background, and reference checks before hiring a caregiver. Each employer is also responsible for verifying the age of the caregiver they select, as well as that caregiver’s eligibility to work in Canada.
Does Care.com verify the information members provide in their profiles or job postings or post in other areas of the site?
Generally, we do not verify the accuracy of the information members post on the website. Please be sure to verify the information that is important to you before hiring a caregiver.
What steps does Care.com take to protect my information?
We have built a secure messaging system that enables you to communicate through Care.com instead of your personal email. That way, you only share your contact information if and when you feel comfortable.
We have also set up industry-recognized safeguards to help protect your information from unauthorized access, including:
- Using SSL (Secure Socket Layer), the industry standard method for computers to communicate securely without risk of manipulation or recipient impersonation. We utilize SSL in the online registration process, in the login process, and in the account management section of the site.
- Using strong encryption technology to protect sensitive information.
- Employing firewalls and system monitoring to protect against unauthorized access of our systems.
Your user accounts are also protected by the password you use to access your online account with Care.com, and we urge you to take steps to keep your password safe. If you feel your password has been compromised, you should change it immediately by logging into your account and visiting the “Account Info & Settings” section. And after each visit, you should log out of your Care.com account and exit your browser.
We take these precautions in an effort to protect your information against security breaches. However, this is not a guarantee that such information may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by breach of such firewalls and secure server software.
What does Care.com do if it learns a member is unsafe or has acted inappropriately in Care.com’s opinion?
If Care.com learns a member may be unsafe or has acted inappropriately, we immediately remove the member from Care.com. In the event of an investigation, Care.com cooperates fully with the authorities.
What are my responsibilities in making safe decisions for my family and me?
Ultimately, all hiring decisions are up to you. Please make sure you have done your research and feel comfortable with the caregiver before hiring.
Hiring Caregivers
What types of third-party checks should I do on a caregiver?
It’s important to perform your own independent search on your candidates to narrow your search. Search the web for their name to see if there are any news articles about them. You should also try to locate them on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social networks.
What should I do if I find out negative information after doing my own search?
Please contact our Member Care team if you uncover any suspicious or inappropriate information, so that we can take the necessary actions.
Where should I conduct my in-person interview?
It’s a good idea to conduct your first in-person meeting at a public location, such as a coffee shop.
What should I ask the caregiver to bring to the interview?
Request to see a photo ID of the potential caregiver to confirm that he or she is who they claim to be. Also, request documentation to verify any other information that is important to you.
When should I introduce my final candidate to my family?
Have your top choices individually meet your family after the initial meeting. Bonus: this practice run might actually give you the best insight into which applicant will be the best fit.
For Caregivers
Why should I communicate through Care.com’s messaging system?
Privacy – We suggest you send all of your initial messages through Care.com instead of using your personal email. That way, you only share your contact information if and when you feel comfortable enough. So instead of sharing your contact information every time you apply for a job, you only share it with a select few potential employers.
Convenience – All of your messages, such as replies to job posts, are in one central place. No searching through hundreds of emails in your inbox, no hunting for a sticky note that’s wandered off. Simple and fast, just the way you want it.
What types of third-party checks should I do on an individual or family seeking care?
It is important to perform your own independent search to ensure you are being hired by someone you would be comfortable working for. Search the web for their name to see if there are any news articles about them. It is also possible to obtain public information in other ways, such as via your local authority. You should also try to locate them on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social networks.
What should I do if I find out negative information after doing my own search?
Please contact our Member Care team if you uncover any suspicious and/or inappropriate information so that we can take the necessary actions.
What types of things should be reported to Care.com?
>Any inappropriate activity—whether it’s spam, a scam, or suggestive—we’d like to know.
How do I report inappropriate content to Care.com?
If you experience any type of inappropriate interactions with another member or see anything inappropriate on the site, contact our Member Care team.
What does Care.com do when someone has been reported?
We have a dedicated Safety team that investigates all flags by our members. Once a flag is received the Safety team investigates on a case-by-case basis. If the content violates our terms, we will immediately close the user’s account.
Where should I schedule my in-person interview?
It’s a good idea to have your first in-person meeting at a public location, such as a coffee shop.
I received a job offer that seems “too good to be true.” What should I do?
If a job offer seems “too good to be true,” then it probably is. You should be extra cautious if you receive a message offering employment and advance payment by cheque without an interview with the family or even a phone call.
What should I do if a potential employer wants to send me advanced payment?
Caregivers should be extra cautious if they receive messages offering employment and advance payment by cheque without an interview with the family or even a phone call. This is a common Internet job scam, which occasionally targets sites offering babysitters, nannies, and other caregivers. Never accept payment without having first met the employer and gone through an interview process. Never accept payment by cheque for an amount that is greater that what you agreed upon. Never wire or transfer money back to someone who pays you by cheque.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns or with reports of any suspicious activity within the Care.com community. You can find out more about Internet job scams at Fraud.org.
