Saturday

Bosses Behaving Badly...

Received Saturday, October 2, 2010
Opinion 4 I have a problem with my current employers, and that's this: when I accidentally left my cell phone behind one night, they snooped in it - at my texts and emails and contacts. I know this because mom boss referenced something that she would only know about if she'd read it on my cell phone. This REALLY bothers me... I mean, what kind of people snoop like that, on someone they like and trust enough to leave their child with?!? I want to say something, but... what do I say? What would you do?

22 comments:

Nanny Sarah said...

I have had employers like this- went through my purse!!! They didn't take anything- when I confronted them and said their son did it. Lied right to my face- sadly- it wasn't the first time. I let it slid the first time- but after the second time- I quit. Talk with them first- see what happens- if you have doubts- quit- go with your own insists. Good Luck.

just curious said...

what was the text they were referencing? was it something to do with them? I only ask because although they were wrong to invade your privacy (I would quit on the spot if I were you) when employers hear gossip from their nanny about themselves, it's a deal-breaker: they will never like you again.

as I said, it was wrong of them to snoop and you should not work for people you cannot trust.

MONKEY SHINES said...

I would start looking for another job! How tacky these people are!

NNP member 741 said...

Paybacks a bitch. Do;t mention but bring your dig camera to work. Take pictures of all their unmentionables, classified paperwork, bannk statement, secret toys, wine bottles, etc.

westcountrygirl said...

That's outrageous, and a complete breach of trust. Start looking for a new job.

CuriousDad said...

Do NOT do what NNP stated. That can be construed as a crimanal offense up to and including a felony, depending on how a prosecuter views your action. Especially if you make any mistatements or have ever made a statement that can be potentially interperted the wrong way.

Not a Lawyer just stating my opinion.

ChiNanny said...

I'd say get a new job, but I know that's not as easy as it sounds and may not be an option.

You could ask them if they/the child went through your phone. If nothing else it will let them know you're on to them and maybe prevent it from happening again.

Family_Law said...

CuriousDad:
Once again spouting off about something he obviously doesn't know anything about. Stick to what you know, so you don't look like a imbecile. Leave the legal advise to lawyers like myself. At least we won't scare you into thinking you've committed a felony when you've done nothing wrong!

Manhattan Nanny said...

I would find it extremely difficult to continue working for an employer who did that. I would probably ask her how she knew about -------. If she confessed and apologized maybe I could overlook it, but I think I would probably be looking for another job.

mary said...

family law,

CD is correct: what NNP suggested is just ludicrous and that is not the way to solve problems.

ps said...

family law, you spelled "advice" incorrectly.

oh well said...

You don't need to be a lawyer to understand that Curious Dad makes sense. It is hard to trust people who do not trust you, and I understand how you feel, but I am not sure what you can do about it. They will probably lie if you confront them.

NannyAnnie said...

OP here.

Just curious- the texts had nothing to do with them.

NNP- I've thought about photographing embarrassing, personal things. :)

CuriousDad- photographing things in a place where I am permitted to be is not illegal, though I do see how photographing bank statements or classified info could be argued as an intent to commit a crime. Either way, I'm smart enough to know that you NEVER talk to cops, ever. ;)

ChiNanny- child is 7 months old. Wasn't him. :)

All: I'm interviewing for three other jobs this week, and as soon as I have an offer, I'm out of there!

Young adults these days...god help us... said...

OP, you wrote:

"Either way, I'm smart enough to know that you NEVER talk to cops, ever. ;)"

God. I wish I could say this nicely, but I cannot: you sound like a dumb little kid. Grow the hell up! Oh my word. You are an idiot.

NannyAnnie said...

young adults- i'm a law student, and it's the best advice any person could be given if the cops ever seek to question them: keep your mouth shut! Even if the cop himself if your alibi, SHUT UP. It's your right, why waive it?

NNP said...

The NNP is a nanny brigade that advises nannies how to achieve the dominant role in their relationship.

As a reminder, all nannies should kill the power supply to the house before doing any snooping. This will deactivate electrical nanny cameras and cause in expensive nanny cameras in plants and such to be ineffective in the dark. We advise further that the nanny wear a head mounted flashlight, this way the light broadcasting from the headgear will blind any remaining cameras from the identity of the "person in the dark". For such ventures, I also encourage nannies to wear an alernate outfit, (all black) and if possible to alter their height/weight by padding/heels, etc.

Mary said...

If you wanted to achieve the "dominant role in the relationship" why would you want to be a nanny? Being a childcare provider is not about being dominant over the family. I don't really think this blog should be a forum for nannies to discuss how to spy on their employers.

I have been on both sides of the coin: I have been a nanny, and I now employ one. I would never have spied on my nanny family, nor would I expect my own nanny to do that.

To OP: perhaps in your travels throughout law school you should take Legal Ethics. It may help you to become a better person.

Why would you worry about talking to the cops if you have done nothing wrong? This whole thread has become ridiculous.

NannyAnnie/OP said...

Mary- Uh, I haven't done a thing wrong. This post was about discovering that my employers were spying on me. Someone suggested I spy on them in retaliation- an idea that lives in my head, but I'm far more likely to just quit when I receive a new offer- and someone else wrongly suggested that was illegal. I just said even in the unlikely event that my spying were to be perceived as an intent to commit a crime, that I wouldn't talk to the police, because, well, we have the right to remain silent for a reason! I have taken Professional Ethics, and it's nothing like your simple little mind imagines it.

TC said...

I would chalk it up to a lesson learned...and find another job

About a month ago I took the kiddos to NASA and accidentally left my phone on the counter while we were getting out pics taken for our season passes. When I went to retrieve it the person looked at me weird and made some fast movements...I thought it was odd but brushed it off and grabbed my phone and we left. After I got into the car I looked at my phone and realized they were snooping in my phone. It was an Iphone so you can close something out but it still shows you the last thing you looked at. They had watched videos on youtube, snooped in my texts and emails. I was pretty darn pissed at was ready to raise holy hell but after I calmed down I realized that I screwed up when I left it on the counter and so I just let it go.

Honestly that's the best course of action for you, what really would it accomplish to confront the mother? If you do find another job and the sole reason you are leaving is because she snooped then I would tell her but if it's not then let it go...nosy people never think they do anything wrong.

CuriousDad said...

Family_Law I seriously doubt you are actually a lawyer. A real lawyer would recognize certain key words in my sentence structure. Just because it may NOT be my profession does not mean I cannot have an opinion on a subject. I clearly stated it was an opinion at the end of my paragraph.

Considering how your reply is written I suspect you are the NNP poster.

CuriousDad said...

Nannyannie/OP

No you have not done anything wrong. You have every right to be pissed off at your employers.

But as they have no "right" to snoop into your personal phone. You do not have the "right" to snoop into their belongings.

I would I admit have the same thoughts as you in this situation though.

From a Legal website on Privacy Laws.
"Celebrities are not protected in most situations, since they have voluntarily placed themselves already within the public eye, and their activities are considered newsworthy. However, an otherwise non-public individual has a right to privacy from: a) intrusion on one's solitude or into one's private affairs; b) public disclosure of embarrassing private information; c) publicity which puts him/her in a false light to the public; d) appropriation of one's name or picture for personal or commercial advantage."

http://definitions.uslegal.com/i/invasion-of-privacy/

costanza said...

Ok, I know I can't possibly be the only person here that wonders just how someone can snoop inside one of those new-fangled-high-tech type phones! Mine is 3 years old and took me 2 wks to figure out! I would love a brand new one but I'm too intimidated by them.

Kudos to the owners AND the snoopers! lol