Received Friday, June 8, 2007
I have a question to all nannies and otherwise out there:
How much time is appropriate for giving notice? I've been at my new job for 4 months and things just aren't working out, the commute is very long, I run errands, pick up/drop off friends (none of whom live close) yet receive no gas compensation and to top it off the mother is incredibly hard to please (not just me but her maid, tailor, workmen etc). I love the little girl and if the job were closer or her mother different I would've loved for this to work out. Anyway, obviously more notice is better than less, but what is a minimum polite amount of time to give (I want to get of this job sooner rather than later)?
19 comments:
Did you have a contract with the family? typically they will require at least 2 weeks notice but sometimes they will require at least a month. I find that when you give your notice, things can get sticky and the family will try to force you out early. Seeing how your a live out nanny, your in a better situation than live in nannies. I would say at least 2 weeks is sufficient. But try to get a letter of recommendation before you leave, because if things get sticky, you'll never know where you will end up.
Have you attempting to discuss your concerns with your employer? Perhaps they are extremely happy with you and would be willing to compensate you if you speak up.
If you just want to leave, which if you are unhappy, go for it, then 2 weeks notice is the standard with any job unless you have a contract that states otherwise.
I would do the following:
1. discuss your feelings with your employer regarding her lack of compensation (yours is a legitimate complaint -- any normal person can see that)
2. if she acts like a snatch, give her at least 2 weeks notice
3. never accept a job with a long commute again. From the family's perspective, particularly that little girl's, you've wasted everyone's time. The house didn't get any further away once you accepted the job.
Good luck. You and the mom both screwed up here.
you should receive compensation for gas and miles for anything work related you do in your car while on the clock. If you are asked to do something off the clock you should factor that in as well. This is not an unusual thing to ask, and I am shocked this is going on. You shouldn't be compensated for your commute though.
At least 2 weeks is fair, although I suggest a month or until they find a good replacement. That of course means they have to start looking right away and can't drag their feet on it. Or perhaps they can find a temp in the meantime. Ask for mileage and gas comp for the rest of your time.
I also suggest that you really consider things like commute time before you take your next job!
I get the impression that your main issue is that the mom is difficult. That is not going to change. It is so hard when you love the child, but ultimately, if you are unhappy, it won't be good for you or the child. I would tell her that the commute is proving to be too much for you. Give her a month's notice, and offer to help break in the new nanny. I feel you owe her that much because you are leaving after such a short time, and you did accept the job with a long commute and no gas compensation.
Be aware that she may find someone quickly, and let you go. Good Luck.
A Nanny
Love yourself first, leave the job
GAC!!! Acts like a snatch!! LOL
I'm still laughing. I'm stealing that.
I can't believe you just GAC'd.
Hilarious!
I don't think the OP is screwed up at all, as an above poster said. How is she screwed up because she made an error in judgement? She probably thought the job would be worth the commute and then decided it wasn't.
To 11:00,
You sound like someone who does not have and has never had a job.
I'd quit. She doesn't care about your feelings why care about hers...leave
2 weeks notice.
I would try talking to her first but it sounds like she's difficult with everyone so your situation is unlikely to change. It's better to just leave now.
3:29:
I've had plenty of jobs, thank you. And I've employed plenty of people.
Go back to vacuuming now.
Depending on where you live, commuting may just be a part of life. I actually live only 20 mins from where I work, but the morning and evening traffic makes my commute 45 mins to an hour. It sucks but if I want to make decent money I have no choice. Where I live people can't afford nannies and I simply can't afford to live where the people can.
10:44
I'm not impressed.
Go back to eating chips now.
When there is so much animosity between the nanny and the parents, in the end all it does is hurt the child. You end up being bitter and may be holding onto that all day - resulting in a sour mood and a poorer quality of childcare. The parents may feel frustrated with you and perhaps something is said in front of the little girl, etc. - it can just spiral and become worse and worse. Give a MINUMUM of two weeks notice, and make sure to be prepared to discuss the reasons you are leaving. Sit down, and ask yourself if you had someone coming into your home, and they were telling you that they are leaving, what would you want to hear? What would you find acceptable? What would offend you? It is true that those last few weeks working may become very rough (I was a live-in nanny and when I gave my 4 week notice, my last month there consisted of cleaning out the fridge and washing out the trashcans - things that were not in my job description - as well as being asked to run an exorbitant amount of errands in my off/free time. My work week went from about 45-50 hours a week to around 65. IN some situations you just need to bite the bullet and know that it will all come to an end soon enough.) Best of luck, but remember to listen to your gut, and in the future, talk with the surrounding staff about the prospective employers as well as ask to for references from the employers BEFORE you begin working for them. You will want to talk to a former nanny, as it is helpful in finding the job that best suits you.
this is why contracts are vital. everything is laid out from the get go.
i would ask for gas compensation (whatever the going "per mile" rate is) due to all the driving you are doing. if she refuses, contemplate giving notice. you will never know until you try.
it sounds like the mother is just naturally a bitch and expects everyone to do for her. that may be impossible to avoid.
since you have been there only a few months, ask if maybe you can all sit down and get some guidelines laid down (basic contract) and then take it from there.
ok im not trying to be mean here but why did you take a job with a bad commute anyway? did you not time the route BEFORE you took the job? did you not make sure that she was going to compensate you for your mileage BEFORE you took the job? did you not know the mom was hard to please BEFORE you took the job? didnt you ask questions at the interview?
when i interview with families i ask questions that give me the answers to everything you have mentioned including how traffic is around their neighborhood. im sorry but this is your fault and the one who is going to suffer is the little girl you take care of. make sure you choose wisely next time!!!
I deal with a similar problem, and luckily the job is ending mutually next week after 10 months. Works out for both of us. To those slamming you for taking the job with a long commute, here is the point. You can willingly take a job with a longer commute because it often still turns out to be better pay. However, you end up clearing less and less the more errands/playdates/activities you are driving to on your own gas dollar. Add this to the air conditioning required in the summer months when the children are in the car. Yes, I open windows when it is just me, but the air is hot and the kids get carsick. I have been paying over a quarter of my salary for gas, and that is not acceptable. I (perhaps naively) signed a contract specifying that I would be paid gas mileage for anything that wasn't "the children's normal schedules". I have realized with annoyance "normal" is very subjective- I recently drove one hour round trip to pick up the little girl I care for from a playdate. Is that "normal"? These annoyances add up, and if you employ a nanny, we appreciate your acknowledgement of them, not only financially but also as a sign of respect.
PS- By the way, it is IMPOSSIBLE to tell everything about a parent in terms of their attitude/ how hard they are to please in an interview, "anonymous". Good for you if you haven't had any problems thus far, but it happens. Parents, like us nannies, are on their best behavior at interviews...
Well...I don't know if you are going to read this all the way at the bottom. But I am a nanny in San Diego and have been nannying for 2.5 years full time.
It's really tricky to transition! I contemplated this a lot and have talked to different people and I came to this conclusion:
If a better job comes up, TAKE IT. Give your notice as soon as you have your new job, and have talked to your new employers to find out how long THEY are willing to wait for you. If they need you right away, you won't be able to give any notice to the other family.
Worry more about taking care of yourself and your new opportunity. Don't pass it up because you are afraid to leave your current family hanging. I know that's going to be hard and you may have to leave your old job hanging.
I have several good reasons for saying this, but mainly, this family doesn't seem to care about you. Two weeks notice would be very polite of you but DON'T sweat it if it's less! Please don't pass up a good opportunity and get walked all over.
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