This is my first submission and hope I am doing this correctly. I am a full time nanny for three kids in the South. A 2 year old, a four year old and a seven year old. After working for this family for over a year, I am still only making $250.00 (the rate stayed the same even during the Summer when I had all three). I asked for a raise earlier this year outlining the reasons why I think I should make a little more money and was told that they could only do it for another $10.00.
During the school year I have the 2 year old full time with the 4 year old going to pre-k three days a week from 9am-1pm. The seven year old will be coming home at 2:30pm. I work from 8:30am-5:30pm but I usually end up staying later with no overtime. The family is extremely nice and live in the country club and take weeklong vacations several times a year. The kids are pretty good though the four year old and 2 year old can be quite difficult. I am growing resentful that I work 40 plus hours a week for $250.00 which is around 6.00 an hour for three kids. I am wondering if anyone has any advice on how I can broach this subject again as I feel I am being grossly underpaid for the amount of work and kids that I deal with. - Anonymous
15 comments:
You don't say where in the south you live but that is under minimum wage anywhere. I live in TN and when I was a nanny made $15 an hour no matter how many of the kids I had. You are definitely being taken advantage of and I would ask for more money or find a new job. I honestly do not know how you even pay your bills! :)
Also, I forgot to add I am guessing that you are flat rate for the week. What about asking to be paid hourly? And then overtime after that?
Hey Alex! I'm in Nashville :)
OP, you are grossly underpaid. You aren't going to squeeze another dime from the cheapskates, so it's time to take matters into your own hands and find another job where you are paid what you are worth.
You agreed to that pay when you started. There have been so many nannies on here complaining about how little they make in a job but took that job knowing what they would make. If its to little then don't accept the job. You do deserve a raise but a typical raise is never huge so you can't expect them to agree to jump up to a much larger amount. I know times are hard but when you accept such a low paying job then you either deal with it or leave and find another one. No one starts a job without knowing these so there is no way you didn't know you were starting that low and you should have had talk of raises in your contract.
Yes you are underpaid. Yes you deserve a raise.
However it's highly unlikely these people will agree to pay you atleast hourly minimum wage.
You can try and ask for a raise again.
If i were you I'd start looking for another job ( make sure you have a signed contract with at a minimum of $7.25/hr) though honestly you should ask for more.
Don't be afraid to move on if they won't pay you a fair wage, but get that new job lined up first.
What's the minimum wage in your state?? You're legally entitled to it. Id ask for back pay & to be paid the minimum wage immediately. You have a legal right to the backpay. Its not optional. They're extremely cheap!!!! Of course they can afford several vacations & the country club, they are paying $6 an hour for child care!!!! That's absurd. Of course you're resentful. Who wouldn't be? They can & should be paying you at LEAST $15 an hour. Formally request your backpay & minimum wage. Look for a new gig. Next time....know your rights & don't take a low ball offer. You'll only grow resentful & notice what the family blows their money on. You can only be paid $6 an hour, if you allow it.
Hey Nashville Nanny, I'm in Nashville too! :)
You're ridiculously underpaid, and if all they managed to eek out for a raise was 410/week, you will be better off finding a new job.
Ask this family for a letter of reference now, saying you are looking into other babysitting or volunteer opportunities and need a LoR.
When you start looking for your new job, remember:
Nannies are hourly employees, and as such MUST be paid at the very least minimum wage for every hour worked up to 40/week, and then (in most cases) MUST be paid overtime for any hours worked in excess of 40 per week.
Have a contract signed by your new employers, and add a section about what they will be paying you per 15 minutes when they are late getting home.
Good luck in your job hunt!
OP, if you're in GA, email me through my blog to find out about a nanny support group in that state.
Gah! Not 410/week (though that would be AMAZING!) $10 per week. Or 4%. Which is insufficient, given that you don't even make minimum wage.
Repost for Anonymous #1:
Anonymous said...
OP,
I do a flat rate and it is getting harder to pay the bills. Luckily I live at home still but it is still a chore. I live in Georgia and what really brought this to a head was when I was talking to a neighbors nanny and found out she gets paid 100.00 more then me and only works 3 days a week. I will try your suggestion out!
Repost for Anonymous #2:
Find a new nanny position.
Why would you work full time during the summer for $0?
OP, yes you are being grossly underpaid. The family is getting a great deal w/you and are probably on cloud nine. I totally get why you must feel resentful. I would too.
If you can afford to, I would leave and start searching for a new family. If you cannot afford to, then perhaps you can quit when you have another job lined up.
I do not recommend staying w/this family at all. I highly doubt they will suddenly agree to pay you what they should (which is $15/Hr + OT) and they are nothing but users.
I hope you find a great family to work for in the future.
There are some snakes like this family unfortunately, however I am confident that from now on you will know what to ask for rate wise.
Best of luck to you. ☺
Thank you, Shine Shine.
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