Received Friday, October 10, 2008 - Perspective & Opinion
I am a nanny/housekeeper for a family in NJ. I started one year ago and I do like this job. But the problem is that I take care of two little boys, 7 and 4 and still have to clean after theirs sister that is 14 and very irresponsible and messy. They have a huge house, I have to clean all by myself and still cook for the entire family, I do all the family laundry, about 2 or 3 loads a day, I don`t know how they get to manny clothes dirty during just one day, anyway. I do all the job, the kids, parents, answer the phone, take notes, get the mail, take garbage out, open the door for people that comes to do something around the house, and now they got a new dog without asking me if i would mind take care of him.
I am the only one in the house from 7 am to 6 PM, the kids go to school and I am the one that watch the dog, he is only 2 months old, so you can imagine how much trouble he is, I don`t think it was fair with me, I do not want a dog, they just told me what to do and thats all.
I live in from sunday night to friday afternoon, I work more then 11 hours a day and they only pay me $450 a week. For all this job I do, I think they are not being nice to me and I don`t know what to say.
Do you think that is a good salary??? Am I complaining too much???
I am thinking about asking $550 a week, and I know they have money!!!
I would like to hear some opinions!!
Thank you so much.
you're the only one in the house for 11 hours? Did I read that correctly? And you live in...450 sounds reasonable to me.
ReplyDeleteDo you have the kids AT ALL? Do you do 11 hours worth of housekeeping everyday?
I'm confused. Why am I so confused lately? Is it just me?
wow I'm sorry but to me it seems like you should be paid more considering you do all of that work. I get paid that much money and I am only responsible for one little boy and no cleaning.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do all day if you are alone for 11 hours? I'm confused too. I'm almost sure that you don't slave around doing housework 11 hours a day everyday. Do you?
ReplyDeleteElaborate a little.
Also, if you are exceeding your job description that was initially decided upon when you were first hired, whether or not you are alone for 11 hours, you should get more money.
It is not fair for work to be put upon you for no compensation.
More work equals more money. Bottom line.
I hope that helped.
It sounds like you are a live in house keeper, not a nanny. You should re-evaluate your position first. Don't call youtself a nanny when in fact they think you are a housekeeper
ReplyDeleteAsk for $750.
ReplyDeleteYou are being taken advantage of.
ReplyDeleteYou live in Sun - Fri, which means you have to pay rent somewhere else. If you didn't have to pay rent, I'd say the wage might be ok because we don't have the full story.. like what you do all day while the kids are in school, etc. I can't imagine it takes 11 hrs. to clean a house.
But since that isn't the issue.. you should be making around $700 or so for all that you do.
If you told us exactly what duties you have throughout the day, and the hours you actually work, we might be able to give you a better estimate of what the rate should be.
But either way, as it stands now.. you're being low-balled.
what kids are in school from 7-6.?It seems that perhaps English is not OPs first language.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read "I am the only one in the house from 7 am to 6 PM" I took it to mean that she is the only adult in the house for those hours.
So you work 55 hours a week, but actually watch the kids for only a fraction of those hours? So you are a live-in housekeeper with lots of downtime? I agree with others and can't imagine you could clean for all that time. I think the question of whether you are underpaid is kind of tough to answer with the limited info. Do they require you to leave Friday afternoon-Sunday night (and thus you *must* maintain another house) or do you choose to spend weekends at a different place. Is $450 your net cash or your gross pre-tax salary? Did you know the job description (besides the dog) including the hours and duties when you were hired or have they been adding on hours and jobs? I mean you knew there was a 14yo girl when you were hired so you had to figure she would contribute mess and laundry.
ReplyDeleteI do think being upset at the new dog is reasonable especially if you weren't consulted ahead of time and are expected to feed and walk him. What if you really scared of dogs or had an allergy? I definitely think it's fair to discuss that you don't feel comfortable caring for the dog.
However, I don't think your comment about whether the family can afford to increase your salary is reasonable. I hate the idea that just because a family is wealthy, a nanny is somehow entitled to that wealth and should ask for a raise because "they have money." Perhaps you should be earning more, but it really depends on what responsibilities you agreed to at hiring and the timeline for raises that was discussed. I know a few live-in hk and nannies in the nyc area and they make around $450-550 week, but they don't go home on weekends so I do think it matters if that is a requirement for you or a choice.
You took the job and allowed that much work to be heaped upon you. Personally- I wouldn't do it period. If I did, I would be paid about $850-$1,000 per week (and I do NOT live in NYC). Any way you look at it I think you are being underpaid.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteNot a park slope nanny: Hey we all know you are a park slope parent/idiot/mom.
ReplyDeleteGotcha?
ReplyDeleteAre your serious? Do you have any proof? I haven't even made any comments regarding park slope, I just thought it was a funny moniker. Trust me, if I was a park slope mom, you'd see me defending the moms and slamming the nannies, and that's just not gonna happen, and I dare you to find one of my posts defending the park slope parents.
Now, don't you feel just a little stupid?
Well! I wrote that post. English is nit my first language, I am Brazilian, sorry I was writing fast.
ReplyDeleteI am the only adult in the house form 7 to 6, one boy go to school from 8 to 4, the other from 11 to 3 and the girl works after school, so she comes home around 6 PM also.
Yes, I do have about 2 hours to rest, but I am still there to answer the phone and the door and still folding the laundry, like I said is a lot everyday and I do clean the house more then once, because the kids keeping messing and I don`t like to the parents to see it dirty, So I do everything for the kids and for the house.
I said they have money because they keeping buying a lot and traveling and so on..
I still think $450 is not a lot!!!
Thank you for all the comments!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are working quite a bit, and I agree that it is unfair for them to get a dog without checking in with you and expect you to take care of him.
ReplyDeleteIt is also unfair that the 14-year-old is a slob and you have to clean up after her. I would suggest saying something to her about it. Tell her you would appreciate it if she would clean up after herself. If she doesn't change her behavior, I would mention something to her parents.
I don't think $550 a week is too much to ask. It can't hurt to try. Good luck!
Since you said you've been there a year, I'd say it's time for a raise anyway. Use that as your opening line...you'd like to review things now that you've been there a year. Bring up the fact that the dog and the 14 y/o daughter are extras that weren't originally factored into the job and you'd like to discuss a raise. Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteDeni said...
ReplyDeleteYou took the job and allowed that much work to be heaped upon you.
Give me a break, I have been in the childcare business as well as a day care teacher. This last job I took 2 weeks ago seemed nice. No where in the interview was I told I would expect to do cleaning after the lazy adults. I'm sure they left that part out on purpose. I was also told "by others" that they can never keep a nanny cause they try to work them like slaves.
With all the work that you do they are taking advantage of you big time. Of course you should be paid wayyyyyyyyyy more than you are now.
You need to do so much, you can say to them is appropriate to increase the remuneration of work. However, now the domestic economy recession.
ReplyDelete