First off all Congratulations for the blog. I am currently a nanny for a 20 mos old and a 3.2 years old little girl. At this point I am having a couple of bumps with my boss.She was mad because I told her i was going to arrive at 8:30am and she knew I was at the dentist appointment. As soon as she called I text saying I was still there and was going to call when i was done. I got at work at 8:50 and she was furious - also I request a day off and she cannot allow me since I gave her 1.5 week notice, she claims i need to give her a month notice.
I am extremely flexible with them, never leave at 5 pm but it seams the flexibility does not go both ways. And she also tells me I do not like her family, do not like her kids and we will sit down and talk - at the end of the day she does not even say a word to me and the next morning act as nothing have happen. I understand her frustration but also would like the to be more respectful and flexible with me (I work from 7-6pm most of days and if I am running 5 min late she takes it out of my paycheck) Once again thank you and I am looking forward to hear from you soon.
Wow, so I am not the only one with this issue. Flexible is one thing parents look for in hiring a nanny- however being on time, emergencies happen, is also important. The verbal comments about her family and her kids- maybe just frustration, but they is no excuse. I am moving on. I would sit down (take her out to lunch- without kids) and have a good long talk with her. If nothing happens- I suggest your find another family.
ReplyDeleteThis working relationship would be too one sided for me. The nanny is doing all the flexing, and the boss appears to be doing the opposite.
ReplyDeleteI'd quit, and demand respect from my new employer, but again, maybe that is just me.
What does your contract say? If it says you are supposed to be done at 5, start nickeling and diming her. Her attitude will change in a hurry.
ReplyDeleteMy parents were the same way. If I needed an hour off for an appt. They said I was responsible to find a back up. Of course they always expected me to allow for their needs. I was with this family for two years and was hospitalized for a serious illness and they never once inquired about my well being. I got home and a friend told me she saw that my family was advertising for a new nanny. The family won't communicate with me or allow me to see the girls. I'm just heartbroken and can't imagine not seeing them again. This odd behavior also came about after the mother experienced the youngest crying n screaming for me as I left... She didn't want mommy.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, if you haven't got too attached leave now because a hostile mommy is the worst.
You may want to leave this position but I'm afraid you might run into the same problem again. Bosses aren't typically as flexible as employees because they don't have to be. I think you should take a good hard look at the contract. Does it specifically say you have to give 4 weeks' notice for a day off? That seems excessive to me, but if it says it, there you go. Nothing you can do about that. If there's nothing in there about that, you can maybe offer to find her a replacement on the day you need off. About leaving at 5, I was very unclear based on your writing what time you are supposed to leave. Which is it, 5 or 6? What does that contract say? If it is 5, are they paying you overtime for the hour? I agree they should take money out of your check when you're late, it is their money and time, not yours. Don't be late, unless it is an extreme circumstance, like the dentist appointment. And in that case, you shouldn't have told her you'd be there at 8:30 unless you were 100% positive you could be. I would have been mad too. And I think you should have texted her at 8:25 just to let her know so she didn't have to call to find out what was going on. As for her saying you don't like her family, that would be a deal-breaker for me. I wouldn't be able to work for someone who would throw around accusations like that.
ReplyDeleteIf she runs 5 min late tell her to add it on to your paycheck
ReplyDeleteIt is a problem without a contract. However, I find that many parents in this area are turned off by the thought of a contract. I have a similar problem quite often. I work for several part-time families. They seem to have no hesitations in cancelling days (unpaid) regularly, but if I need one day off after years of service it creates unrealistic animosity on their part.
ReplyDeleteNo contract? You're screwed, hon. If the parents don't want to sign a contract, they don't need to be hiring nannies. If there are no set regulations, they can just start making stuff up whenever they want. They have no reason to think of you or no reason to be flexible, you're their slave who will bend over backwards for them. Get a new job.
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