Sunday

To Be Or Not To Be --ON CALL? ( No My Bills Are Not On Call)

I am a career nanny and have found myself in a situation never before experienced and I am a bit confused and stressed about how to handle it. My NF is great and I watch and I watch a 4 and 9 year old. I work 40 hours a week and I have been with them a year and a half ( all other families I have worked for for over 2 years). The youngest starts kindergarten in the fall which will cut my hours dramatically. We have discussed filling the childless hours with organization,errands,housework, I am completely fine with that.

My question is I have been asked to stay exclusively with this family and not seek out any additional work in case they need or want me. On call so-to-speak. I knew this was coming but I don't know how I can go backwards financially, I have not received a raise in 1.5 years. I do much housework now as it stands, it would just be more efficient since the children would be at school full time. I am also a nanny who walks 5-6 miles a day and is extremely active with the kids, never sitting down, never on the phone, I live in NYC

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

it is wrong for them to expect you to be on call, very selfish,especially if you have other ways to make needed money!

Taleia said...

Hey, if they want to pay you enough to make it worth it to you, more power to them. Otherwise they're nuts to think you'd be able or willing to be on call for free!

Anonymous said...

NEVER agree to be on call unless the salary is high and you know the family dynamic well. Otherwise, you will regret it because some family abuse the fact that you're on call. But if you are well paid, it makes it worthwhile for the meantime.

Anonymous said...

Never be on call unless they are paying you what you would be earning if you were working. On call to me means babysitting which is NOT nanny work. I suggest you move on. I usually dip out around the 3rd year when the kids start going to preschool, I gotta keep making money or pay me well to stay. You'll find 99.9% of parents dont care, they'll just find a 5$ an hr babysitter. Nannies are completely replaceable and this is a truth I've learned the hard way. Nanny work is such emotionaly vulnerable work.

Anonymous said...

Oh, dear! I'm sorry, but I would have laughed in their faces! "Sure, I'll just wait around twiddling my thumbs, hoping you call me in so I can get paid." Love, don't consider it for a second. People will ask for anything, but it's not your job to accommodate them 100% of the time. Move onto another position, clearly stating what you need for guaranteed hours each week or month. Good luck!