Received Friday, November 3, 2006
Thought you would be interested to know that in the area I live in, two nannies have been poached by one ill intentioned stay at home mother. The mother/employer has an English accent and is not an American. For a parent to observe a stellar nanny and do all they are able to persuade that nanny to come and work for them is certainly fair. However, only after having heard of the second poaching was I alerted to the fact that the first nanny- lulled in by the promise of an enormous paycheck and an idyllic job description- lasted only two weeks before she quit. The second nanny also poached from a neighborhood family lasted only three days before calling and requesting her old job back. Once this mother/employer has the nanny ensnared in her home, she is out the door and inaccessible. Nanny #2 tells me that there was no off time or down time, nor was she able to reach the mother when a question came about regarding the children's prescription medication. Being that nanny #2 left with her bags late in the middle of the night, I am guessing this employer will soon be on the prowl again. Central Park South Employers, gird your nannies!
Poached eh? Like eggs, or like hunting deer in a banned area?
ReplyDeleteIf you have never heard the term "nanny poaching", how much do you really know about nannies?
ReplyDeleteLike DUH...
I lost an amazing nanny to a so called friend of mine who offered 100 more a week, ten less hours, 4 weeks vacation (instead of 2) and health insurance. The so called friend made an offer my nanny would have been an idiot to refuse. You would think a friend would consider losing this person had on our family and are children.
ReplyDeleteBe very careful of those women who buddy up to your nanny!
I never claimed to know much about nannies...I just read the blog ;)
ReplyDeleteMoms, if you have a terrific nanny, and she loves your children, is happy with the way you treat her, and is paid decently, she will not run off with a poacher. I have been approched many times. Sorry, I am happy where I am. While there is nothing wrong with offering someone a job, I also think anyone who tries to poach from a friend or her child's classmate is probably a horrid employer. A nanny
ReplyDeleteTo the nanny above,
ReplyDeleteWhile it is obvious you are a loyal person, I can assure you that many a nanny has made the error and chosen loyalty to a family/employer/home/children over the possibility of more money, vacation, perks. Loyalty is lovely, but in the end- the nanny should make the decision just like any other career person and choose the position that gives her the most. Nannies who stay in a position and end up giving their most year after year are often burned in the end.
While in my last job, I was approached numerous times by moms who have tried to poach me. I always turned them down because I was loyal. But in the end, it contributed to my bitterness. Because I knew what I was worth, and the family I worked for not only NEVER gave me a raise in the three years I worked them, they also complained incessantly about how overpaid I was.
ReplyDeleteWhen I finally decided to leave, I went to a job where I had one child rather than two, worked ten fewer hours per week, made an extra $200 a week, got better benefits and two extra weeks of vacation days per year. And the best part ... my new employers have never once insinuated that I make too much money. They say I'm worth every penny.
as a nanny.i have work.for a number of family.over the past 11 years. some of my boss use me. as a slave everyday. its something new i have to do for them. can you please help me with the dishes can u do this. can you do that. then it become my job. and no i didnot have the guts to say no. i wish i did.becouse it would make my job much easier for me.some of them treat me like a family member.all of my jobs.i treat the kids like my own.(no better than my own)and what thanks did i get.my references.And i know when the child happy the family happy And they treat me with respect.
ReplyDeleteThis is New York City and nanny poaching goes on all the time. (It was even an episode on Desperate Housewives.) However, it goes both ways. When I was pregnant with my child, I got approached on a daily basis by nannies looking for another job. They would actually point to the child in the stroller and say that they were not happy with that family. I felt sorry for the children in those situations. When I would reply that I was going to stay home and raise my child myself, I got strange looks like that has never happened before. Incidentally, I would have moved into my parent's basement before I would leave my child with a nanny. Sorry to the good nannies out there, but I have seen things to make my hair stand on end.
ReplyDeleteTo the parent above - good for you. However I can assure you that nannies have witnessed some horrendous parenting as well. There are a lot of bad, misguided, self-indulgent parents around especially in NYC
ReplyDelete