Nannies (and parents), please help.
I have been working as a nanny for almost 6 years. I have been a live-in nanny, live-out nanny, worked in big cities and small, and as an au pair. In almost every single position I have ever worked in, job creep happens. I know this is a common thing for many nannies, but I feel as an experienced nanny in my late 20s, I should freaking know better by now. I have never asked for a job contract because I'm afraid if will make me look pushy and untrustworthy of the family; I have never asked to be paid on the books for the same reasons. I work and work and work my ass off until I am burnt out and in tears. I consider myself a great nanny; usually work with school-age kids, very academic based, organized, responsible, etc, etc. I have always gone the extra mile and that earns me a lot of brownie points with families who are quick to recommend me to their friends because of it. Unfortunately, it also earns me a lot of extra responsibilities that I did not agree to when hired and am not paid extra for. I do not have time nor energy to detail every time this has occurred, but rest assured the occasions are numerous. I have lived with kids for 2+ weeks while both parents have been traveling for my regular pay plus $50 extra per night because MB did not feel like she had to pay me for sleeping. I been saddled with all the usual cleaning/laundry/take the dog to the vet/take the car to the shop/do all the grocery shopping nonsense because I did it one time and then it was expected of me. Most recently I was asked to take the family dog into the vet on my WEEK OFF. (I said no to this one because I was out of town.) During summer jobs, I have literally taught children entire school years worth of material over summer breaks because they were so far behind and never paid a dime extra for acting as an intensive special-ed teacher, but I just cared so damn much about those kids that I wanted to help them, you know?? You all know the drill. It's endless and repetitive. Please, for the love, help this too-nice-nanny have the guts to say NO for once without being made to feel GUILTY or like I am going to lose my damn job for not bowing to a family's every whim.
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| Lizzie Riches |
I have been working as a nanny for almost 6 years. I have been a live-in nanny, live-out nanny, worked in big cities and small, and as an au pair. In almost every single position I have ever worked in, job creep happens. I know this is a common thing for many nannies, but I feel as an experienced nanny in my late 20s, I should freaking know better by now. I have never asked for a job contract because I'm afraid if will make me look pushy and untrustworthy of the family; I have never asked to be paid on the books for the same reasons. I work and work and work my ass off until I am burnt out and in tears. I consider myself a great nanny; usually work with school-age kids, very academic based, organized, responsible, etc, etc. I have always gone the extra mile and that earns me a lot of brownie points with families who are quick to recommend me to their friends because of it. Unfortunately, it also earns me a lot of extra responsibilities that I did not agree to when hired and am not paid extra for. I do not have time nor energy to detail every time this has occurred, but rest assured the occasions are numerous. I have lived with kids for 2+ weeks while both parents have been traveling for my regular pay plus $50 extra per night because MB did not feel like she had to pay me for sleeping. I been saddled with all the usual cleaning/laundry/take the dog to the vet/take the car to the shop/do all the grocery shopping nonsense because I did it one time and then it was expected of me. Most recently I was asked to take the family dog into the vet on my WEEK OFF. (I said no to this one because I was out of town.) During summer jobs, I have literally taught children entire school years worth of material over summer breaks because they were so far behind and never paid a dime extra for acting as an intensive special-ed teacher, but I just cared so damn much about those kids that I wanted to help them, you know?? You all know the drill. It's endless and repetitive. Please, for the love, help this too-nice-nanny have the guts to say NO for once without being made to feel GUILTY or like I am going to lose my damn job for not bowing to a family's every whim.
