Should schools, day care centers, summer camps, etc. permit staff members to babysit after hours for the children with whom they work?
A. The safest route is to prohibit such staff members from babysitting after hours in such circumstances. At a minimum, the employer should inform staff and parents that if such babysitting occurs, it is not sanctioned by or under the supervision of the employer. The employer may also want to require parents to sign a statement/waiver to the effect that if the parents use the staff for babysitting, they do so at their own risk and expressly waive the right to hold the employer responsible for any accidents or wrongdoing.
