Hello! I am new to the whole nanny as a profession but have cared for many children over the years. I recently accepted a position from a well off family who gets reimbursed by their employer for childcare. They said $200 a week, but in our area I am unsure of anyone who can live off of $800 a month! I am expected to care for one child for the full nine hours while the other is only about a half hour till they come home. They choose to have a nanny over regular child care so we can monitor and regulate what the youngest child eats/drinks as he is extremely allergic to many food items. We play all day long, I put him down for a nap, and cook/feed the children breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the summer I will be expected to care for both children, I would enjoy taking the kids out but I can't when I myself cannot afford to even get to work and back after paying my bills/rent! Any advice is greatly appreciated.
I agree with you that the amount offered is VERY small and I do not think anyone could live on it. But my question is why did you take this job if you thought that?
ReplyDeleteIf I understand correctly, you would be working 45 hrs/wk for just $200, which works out to about $4.40/hr, which is well below minimum wage, and therefore illegal. Do not take this job.
ReplyDeleteIf you are willing to consider $200 a week you might as well take a part time job for 10 or whatever hours and work less hours for that kind of money. Just imagine how crappy yor holiday bonus will be.
ReplyDeleteUm. I don't know anyone who can live off of $800 a month unless they either live with their parents, their employer, or a someone else like a husband or boyfriend that has an income. If you like these people and think the job will be good for you I would let them know that you should be at least paid the average salary of a nanny in your area. You should ask around and do research to get that number. Or at least minimum wage! If you work 45 hours a week and are paid $200.00 you are basically making $4.44 an hr. That won't allow you to pay your bills at all!
ReplyDeleteDo you mean that the family gets reimbursed $200 for child care per week so this is what theyre paying you or is this the actual pay you will be getting from them (no additional money)?
ReplyDeleteIf it is $200 per week the. As people have stated before me, this is under minimum wage and illegal. They are not allowed to pay you this low of a salary.
Please do not take this position. If you have already accepted it then you need to speak with them immediately about the miscommunication of pay.
I nanny a little boy who is allergic to wheat, gluten, eggs, dairy, all nuts, etc. This is doable but a lot of work! And if someone is putting the health, well being and safety of an allergic child in your hands they need to respect your time and energy and pay you accordingly.
If you can't afford to live off what they're paying you, why did you accept the position?
ReplyDeleteDO NOT TAKE THIS JOB.
ReplyDeleteIt's only a matter of time until you are miserable. I guarantee it.
I would look for another position. This family is ripping you off big time. They are raking in the big bucks yet are paying their Nanny in peanuts.
ReplyDeleteNot to stereotype, but I see a lot of rich people do stuff like this.
of course rich people do this! How do you think they keep their money? By treating people fairly? Not likely. LOL. i am one who tips generously. Almost 50% sometimes. If I hire someone for work around my house I pay over and above what they ask. Hell, i even tip-out my hair guy at 100% of my bill (which isn't really that much cuz I don't dye my hair) but still. I'm not rich by any means and I don't understand how people can be so cheap and still look them in the eye!
ReplyDeleteSo true Phoenix..I have to say I agree w/you 100% on this. I am very generous as well when I pay others.
ReplyDeleteI think rich people just don't know how it is for us on the "other side." They cannot relate to us at all since they have never been in our shoes. :(
But we know what it's like to struggle and that is why we have more empathy for others.