So here's the issue and I need some advice, I nanny for this family who I love dearly and they are so nice, they are actually too nice and it makes it hard for me to speak my mind!!! I've been working there for six months and this week they are on vacation, when they paid me they also gave me a card that explained how much they appreciate me, so here I am thinking inside this envelope must be my paid vacation money.....well I was wrong, no paid vacation!!!!!! I'm pretty sure that it was stated that I would receive vacation pay when we had worked out all the details! Do you think it's because I've only been there for six months??? Should I mention it upon return from vacation? I don't want to seem desperate, but I got bills to pay and it sucks to be home for a week and not get paid... Is this right?
19 comments:
Do you have a written contract with the family? Mine clearly states that I am a salaried employee who is paid whether the family uses me or not. It also entitles me to 15 vacation days of my choosing, with 30 days notice. It's really important to always have a written contract so that there are never grey areas. I would definitely talk to your employers about it when they return. You've been there 6 months. In my opinion, you are entitled to your vacation pay if it was agreed upon when they hired you.
Maybe they thought they could pay you when thu returned? I had a family pay after the vacations the first monday they returned
Yes, I agree with Bostonnanny that perhaps you will be paid when they return, though I think they should have paid you before they left since like you stated...you do have bills and such to pay. Also, do you have a written contract about the paid vacation? If it was stated verbally, then there might have been some miscommunication involved.
I know you say they are nice, but remember OP, this is your job..your livelihood and you need to advocate for yourself in times such as this. Niceness unfortunately does not pay the rent.
Best of luck to you.
I worked for a family who didn't feel it was necessary to pay when I didn't work. I had to be there at the same times every week. They were awesome, the kid was awesome, but this is my livelihood. So, unfortunately, I had to quit. Speak up.
Hopefully you see that check first thing tomorrow morning. However, I have to ask, do you have a written contract with your family? You should absolutely be paid for vacation time. I won't harp on that any more right now though.
If the check is not there when you are leaving tomorrow then I would ask MB/DB if I could expect it to be added to my check on Friday. Unless you need it right away that is a gentle way to bring it up.
I don't get paid vacation time and here is the reason why. My family said if I expected pay, then I had to work. So while they went on vacation, I would still be expected to show up to work to do things like take care of the pets, run household errands, clean up, even transport them to the airport once. These are NOT my regular duties, and they honestly thought they were doing me a such a favor of letting me "keep my hours." Well I don't think so!!!! Their logic was since the kids weren't around I could now do those duties. When put in perspective, they take one vacation a year and I get paid pretty well other than that so I just said forget it to the vacation pay... Sadly not worth it to me!!
However, do bring it up to your employers immediately do not let any time pass!!! The more time passes, they won't think it's important to you!! And it definitely is! Get it in writing from here on out.
I had a question for all of you nannies.
Is paid vacation usually just a perk if you only work full-time?
The reason I say this is because I once had a part-time position where I wasn't paid for vacations. It kinda sucked because I was out of income for those weeks, however many people told me since I was part-time, I shouldn't have been paid anyway.
Your thoughts?
$$
if you didn't discuss what paid vacation meant before, then perhaps they were just thinking that they would give YOU two weeks of paid vacation. Most moms I know do this - and the majority also stipulate that one of the weeks is the nanny's choosing and the other week is the parent's choosing (usually a week that they are away anyway). Anyway, when they get back you need to bring it up. Just say that you were unclear what 'paid vacation' meant and that it didn't dawn on you until they were away that you suddenly had no income that week.
@Mrs. Billy Lamar:
If you work part-time, it is highly unusual to get paid for days not worked.
This is why written contracts are so imperative. I would definately ask them about pay. You know theyre paid for their vacation. And its not like you can find a gig for a week or that your expenses change. Now you have to stretch three weeks of pay to cover four weeks of expenses. Its so unfair to you.
You'll need to have a sit down with the parents before you draft up your written agreement. You guys need to have the same expectations. Don't let anymore time pass. You needed that contract yesterday.
Its certainly fair & a reasonable expectation for you to be paid for all vacations they take.you've earned it. Six months & you should get full benefits. You also need to specify how many days per year of vacation that you'll need, how many days in advance you need to give them your written vacation plans(if its not written down, there is a good chance they'll forget & blame you), specify which holidays you take off & that you're to be paid, you'll need to specify that hours over 40 per week are paid @ time and a half, as per the law. So much to include. I'm confident you can find a good one online.
Id say something like this to the parents,"I just wanted to go over of things. First of all, I'm very happy in my position. I enjoy coming to work & spending time with (insert charges name). I just thought that now would be a good time to make sure that were on the same page about a few things. So, I've drafted up this agreement. Please take your time going over it & please let me know if there is anything you need to discuss before we make it official. Included in the contract, print a letter that states what's standard in your area(pay, paid vacations, what duties are nanny related, etc.) So that your contract doesn't seem overboard to them. Ask for all vacations they take to be paid in full. If they try to negotiate this, I wouldn't take less than full pay. Explain briefly, your expenses don't change & finding a job for a week, to replace the lost income, isn't possible. That the *most income you can afford to lose is when you take your own unpaid week or two vacation.
Please update us, OP!
Ofcourse they are super nice, you're caring for there children. If they don't pay you vacation time, please speak up. it's not like they forgot to pay you. If they don't, it was done on purpose and you need to speak up an let them know the deal. They expect you there weekly at a certain time, an you do it weekly because you need money for bills. They can't just not pay you just because they happen to not need you one week.
OP did they normally give you cards telling you how much they appreciate? Or is this the first time they did? Looks like a guilt trip to me.
I'm, well was, part time and was promised at minimum 32 hours a week. I'd almost always work more but when my charge was out of town or if I worked a week with less than 32 I got paid for the promised 32 hours. It's only fair if it's not your fault for not working. I have a doctors appointment soon and I won't get paid for that day cause it's on me for not being able to come in.
Many families that employ part time are on a limited budget and can't afford to pay you every time they are out of town. The part time job I have now I have not been paid for their vacation time, they tell me a month or more ahead when they are going out of town and I save and work for other families if I can. I started in December and although they agreed to pay two weeks vacation I declined and asked for two dollars more an hour then they were offering because by summer it would have been six months that I've been with them not a year which is when you usually get paid vacation days. This kept me at my regular rate ($20 an hour taxed) and let me find other work those days. If your working by the hour it may be hard to find families that are willing to pay you every time they go out of town. You probably will not get paid for their vacation especially if you cannot recall the specifics of what they said, my guess is there weren't any specifics on vacation written down or discussed clearly and an agreement made. You must learn to discuss your benefits of lack there of more easily and clearly or honestly they will be overlooked. You should have asked before they left if you will be paid or not for the vacation, that's your responsibility. Please get over the awkward feeling you have surrounding your pay and benefits, to make money and not be taken advantage of you must be more of a business women and be able to discuss your issues. I promise it will get easier to be assertive about your pay and benefits the more you do it.
You know that MB & DB were getting paid on their vacations. How stingy & hypocritical. Ugh! I feel for you.
As far as getting paid for when a family is on vacation with a part time job, I would expect it. Under the circumstances that: its in your written contract & you've earned it, by working for them for at least six months.
Note: I said vacation. Not every time the family leaves town. If they're leaving town often, I would suggest you place in your contract that you are guarenteed x/hrs of PAY/week. This was your finances aren't on a rollar coaster & you can meet your financial needs. I think any (reasonable) parent would understand this. Unless, of course it is an occasional gig.
I believe in paying pro-rated benefits for part-time nannies IF I expect them to reserve set hours for us weekly. I do not pay benefits for pt caregivers who work occasional or irregular hours and I understand that means they may not be available when I ask.
I work PT (started out at 24 hours a week, now 32). I get paid vacation time only if I am available to work. Example: last month the family left for 6 days and they paid me because I was still in town and thus able to work if they needed me. In Sept, they'll be going out of town again for a week or so but I'll be taking a vacation too so we decided I won't get paid for that time because I won't be available to work. Also, I took a half-day today to take my pet to the vet and won't get paid for that time missed but if MB had just told me to go home early because she didn't need me, I would get paid for it.
The parents are very appriciative and always gift me with little things...so the card wasn't unusual! I will be returning to work on Monday so hopefully I will get my vacation pay then!
Thank you for the great advice I will definitely be putting it to use!!!!!! I return to work on monday so there still may be a chance that I get vacation pay but if not then I hope I can build up the courage to discuss this matter!!!!
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