What Am I Doing Wrong?

I need some help from people in the Chicago area! I was born and raised in New York and had been living in Connecticut for the last five years before I moved to the Chicago area late last year. I’ve been a nanny for eight years, the last five years have been solely for high end families. I’ve always been completely full charge, extremely well compensated, noticeably appreciated (most important), and have always genuinely looked forward to going to work every day. Until I moved to Chicago. :(

I accepted a position caring for six month old twins after only a Skype interview and it was really great at first. But my employers work a school schedule with summers off. So I worked full charge January to mid-May. Then they were both home for a full three months. They genuinely didn’t need me. I’ve never had a harder time with a job. I’ve thrived in positions where I’ve been needed and not been a luxury and for all three months I was a luxury. Both parents were home the whole time I would be there. It was so incredibly uncomfortable I came home so frustrated every day. This may sound petty, I don’t mean it to be. But my last position in CT was 60+ hours a week, completely full charge for 3.5 years. To go from that to essentially be a mother’s helper for so long was the last thing I was interested or comfortable with. They dropped my pay from my generous weekly salary to paying me hourly. Some weeks I didn’t even clear $200. FOR THREE MONTHS. So on top of being completely uncomfortable at work…if I didn’t GO to the uncomfortable job.. I made no money. I even visited my old boss back in CT in June and when I told her about the job the first thing she said was “…but they’re still paying you your full salary during the summer right?…Why don’t these people understand this is your career?” This summer has completely changed my feelings toward my bosses because I can’t wrap my brain around how they thought I was surviving financially for that long amount of time (I had to borrow a large amount of money from my boyfriend). And to answer a potential question if I spoke with them about it..I didn’t. Because these are the type of people that write checks out to the penny…i.e. $110.25 My old boss would’ve rounded to the nearest 100…rounding to the nearest dollar would’ve been decent. So I knew having a conversation about summer compensation would’ve been a waste of breath.

School is back in session so I’m full charge again. But I’m actively looking for a new position and have gone on a few wonderful interviews. Most usually start with a phone interview that goes great and then I go to the family’s home for an interview that never lasts less than an hour. They all act impressed with me, I make them laugh, I leave my references’ contact info before I leave if I’m still interested in the position, I send a lovely follow up email later that night thanking them for their time, etc. I’ve yet to land a new position. I turned jobs away left and right in Connecticut and I can’t for the life of me figure out what families in Chicagoland are looking for that I’m not bringing to the table. I’ve got extensive multiples experience, I genuinely love my job, love caring for children. I go in completely professional with the greatest attitude. I say not a SINGLE bad word about my current family - I simply state that I’m looking for a new position that will be consistent throughout the year. I have the greatest of references that not one of the interviewers have contacted - I feel like if they did I’d be a shoe in. I’m contractually obligated to give at least three weeks notice to my current employers which I would never morally give less. One family had been looking for someone to start ASAP. So I understand that one. But what am I missing for the rest? Is something important in this area that maybe wasn’t back east? Something I should be highlighting or doing differently? Help!

Email isynblog@gmail.com

Um... yes?

Hello, Can you please add this to the blog?
I need nanny advice! I am currently working for a family that I love. Both parents work in the medical field and make great money. I'm adding this in because I feel that I may be getting ripped off. I watch a 7 month old for about 11 hours a day, 4 times a week. My pay is $300 a week tax free. I calculated it and I am making about $6.81 an hour. The minimum wage here in the midwest is over $7 an hour. I have 5 years of nannying experience and I am CPR certified.

 Am I getting ripped off?

Send your questions, situations and experiences to isynblog@gmail.com.

Am I Being Ripped Off?

Igor Braggin

I have been working for a family for about a year now. This is my first full time nanny job although I have extensive child care experience. The family has 3 children and the children as well as the parents are extremely rude and difficult. I often leave work stressed, overwhelmed, and frankly sad that these children are going to grow up thinking it's ok to treat people like garbage. Anyway, I'm getting a bit off the issue here. Although the family clearly has a lot of money, they don't pay me very well for the bs they put me through. Since I've started working for them, I've traveled with them several times. It has always been extremely stressful and they seem to think there's nothing wrong with making me share a hotel room with the three children. They act like I should be thanking them for taking me on their vacations. I was relieved when they said that they were planning a 9 day vacation that they would not need me for. However, when I looked at my schedule for the upcoming months, I noticed that they have tacked extra hours on to each week. My boss stated that they did this to make up for the hours I have off while they are gone. Is this normal? I was under the impression that since it was their vacation, I would not be penalized but I guess I was wrong. Am I unreasonable for being upset by this? The thought of weeks and weeks of overtime with kids that fight constantly makes me want to scream.

Email isynblog@gmail.com. 

When You're Already Underpaid...

     I am a nanny/personal assistant for a family...The son is starting kindergarten in the fall and I am afraid they are going to want to lessen the amount they pay me because of this...here is the reason why I think this is very unfair and I need advice on how to handle it!

Jade Fang

     I have been a daycare provider/nanny for the past 20 years...2 1/2 years ago the family I am with decided they wanted a nanny situation rather than daycare so I took the position and let go of 4 other kids. At the time their kids were 3yrs and a 4 week old. I vacuum, dust, mop and do the whole families laundry 1x per week. I run errands, do preschool drop off and pick up, take them to swim lessons. I also keep them at my house for occasional sleep overs and I keep them for a week every spring while mom goes to New York. I started at $400 a week and am at $450 a week now. I am WAY underpaid and I know this and I think the family knows this but I love the kids so much. This is all I get paid...no vacation time paid, no gas reimbursements, when I take the kids out for a fun day mom pays for food and activities but I pay for my own Sea World and Zoo passes. I work as an independent contractor so I pay all my own taxes and such so the $450 is NOT net pay. Also the sister had a boy last may and he started with me 6 months ago and she pays me separately but she only pays me $200 a week. Although I do no extras around the house for her and do not run any errands or do any shopping for her. If I get sick I have a couple of back up people that I call and then I pay them my wages for the day...none of the parents have had to take more than 2 days off this past year due to my illness or vacation time as I find alternate care for them and pay them my wages.

     So here is my issue....I really love this family but because I am already so underpaid if she says she wants to take some of my pay away due to the fact that her son will be in Kindergarten for 6 hours a day what do I do. I CANNOT afford to have any pay deducted at all....

     Can you get me some advice from your readers??

EMAIL isynblog@gmail.com with your questions and experiences.

Pay Increase Request Shocks Employers

I have been victim to under pay pretty much for forever and only realized it after starting the subsequent job, which thankfully is always an upgrade. I have been trying to acknowledge when I should speak up sooner and be rightfully assertive when needed. I currently work with a family that I hold in very high regard and for whom I accepted a weekly salary three hundred dollars less than what I had in mind.

It is 11 hour days m-f for 2 children under the age of 5. I initially had a break while the younger napped and older went to prek, and will be with the younger only for about 7.5 hours while the older goes to camp and then for 6.5 hours when he starts school. However, I will be with them both for eleven hours everyday for 10 plus weeks when there is neither camp nor school. Each day can feel like I've worked a full week without one minute of silence. Should I be asking for more pay during these days or am I right to feel that it will even itself out when school and camp in running? It is such an easy day when there is that break of only one child whom naps during a portion of the break.

I feel there is such a huge range in what very good nannies expect and my current employer's jaws literally dropped when I proposed 1200 a week. I feel I will need a very professional line of logic to propose additional conditions for my payment. They compensated my drop in pay with about a month and half of paid time off. I have experienced a substantial amount of paid time off due to time they have taken off. On the other hand, I have stayed late frequently upon their request after the expected "staying late when orientating your self to a new family" phase. They give extra money without saying anything for these occasions without a clear line of logic for coming to the extra amount they come to. For example, I was given 20 for car service when I stayed until 8, even though we are in NYC and it will always be quicker by train and then received another 20 in the same weeks pay.

To wrap things up, they are lovely and I want to be around for a few years if my satisfactions remInd consistent. However, as I initially noted, I font want to leave five years down the line and then realize how much I did for so little benefits. I would greatly appreciate the opinions of other professionals. Thanks!

Send your questions and experiences to isynblog@gmail.com.

Abusive Employers in Briarcliff Manor, NY

I just want to out someone that is making me angry. I have a nanny friend who is a live-in nanny in Briarcliff, NY. The nanny lives in 7 days per week. She works 12 hour days M-F and Saturday night 6pm-12am. As we nannies talk about our jobs, I have learned some very interesting things about her. She is not legal. She is making $450 per week cash, which is on the VERY low side. My problem is, she tells me that she is always hungry. She uses a lot of her money on food. She says they make her feel unwelcome when she isn't working, Sunday and Saturday morning, so she goes out and eats her meals out. She said she took the nanny job to save money to go to college. Here's the kicker, the family working this nanny to death is very well off. And because the nanny, doesn't have enough money to pay her bills, one of which is to send money back home to support her own children (!!), she has been going to a soup kitchen and a food pantry. She says the family keeps track of what she eats, makes sure to never over buy. She says even when she works until 7, the mom tells her, "We don't need you to sit down to eat with the children." like so many times that she says she won't sit with the kids. So she is eating canned beans and soups and oatmeal from a food pantry. WHAT THE WHAT? I have seen her with the kids she takes care of and she is good, so I offered to help her find a job. She won't, she is SCARED TO DEATH of her employers. This poor girl is literally trapped here, treated much like a slave! Any advice? I really want to out the parents by name and address!

From $20/hr to $4?

Hi I need some help. I'm a nanny 14 yrs exp Ba in early childhood education minor in special Ed Aba CdA and INA certified along with cpr/first aid certified and 3 yrs teaching experience. Currently residing in nj right outside Manhattan. I'm making about 20/hour. I'm going to be moving to colonial heights va soon (tiny town in middle of nowhere 20 miles away from Richmond) I can't seem to find the going rate and jobs on sittercity are offering $4/ hour (no way is that legal) anyone know any real going rates or can point me to a real direction of finding family's once I move?

Have  a question, story or a sighting? Email isynblog@gmail.com.

We Can't Believe You're Even Considering This...

   

 Hello fellow nannies, parents, au pairs, and readers! There has come an opportunity, my way and I am seeking advice!
      I am in my mid thirties and I have a college education from an excellent university. Pre-college, during college and after college, I have worked as a nanny. (Years of experience) For a short while, I worked in the field of study I majored in. I missed being a nanny. I absolutely love children. I'm returning back to what I truly love to do. I believe I am "worthy" as a nanny, based on what I have to offer, but not in a pompous way.
      I have come across an opportunity and need advice! Never in my experiences have I had such an opportunity with so many hours, a lot of responsibilities and this would be a live in position, which is not typical for me. I have not been a live in before.
      Okay, here is the scoop. The family lives in Baltimore Maryland. To be cared for are two newborn twins (boys), a 3 year old girl in the late afternoons and early evenings (she attends school 5 days a week), my days to work are SIX days per week, 11 hours per day. So that is 66 hours per week as a live in nanny and... housekeeper. All washing and laundry (clothing and bedding) is expected to be completed by me as well as full housekeeping (wash floors, vacuum, clean bathrooms, kitchen, empty trash) on a weekly basis. Sounds like a lot of work to me! The house is not enormous so I think I could possibly and hopefully get the twins on a sleep schedule and do cleaning/laundry then?        Or do you think this is too much and I'll wear myself out. I don't want to accept the job if I don't think I can handle it. I'm at a crossroads here! I need advice. I would have my own bedroom and bathroom on a separate level, food is provided and the weekly compensation is $300 cash, under the table. I have my own health insurance and I have my own transportation. I am American, have an excellent reputation in the area, offered to cook but the family has religious restrictions on their diet. (I'm okay with this) I'm wondering if I asked for more money and how much (?) if that would be fair. I don't want to break the bank as this is a kind family with values (hard to find in this area). Please help! Much appreciated in advance!