You’re Fired!
20 Signs That a Pink Slip is Coming
(Some of these apply to domestics!)
Friday
ISYN Nanny Salaries Across America, #3
Los Angeles, CA
On salary: 47,500 year (just received 5% raise as of today's pay)
Taxes: Yes
Method of payment: $1444.50 (net) direct deposit into bank account every 2 weeks
45-50 Hours per Week
Paid time off multiple times per year when they travel without me or have family visiting.
Two weeks paid vacation and paid federal holidays.
Ten paid sick days per year
Reimbursement for any expenditures (I keep receipts and a record of expenses and log miles driven in my car)Bonuses and thoughtful gifts for Christmas, birthday and Valentine's Day
Length of time at current position: 6 years
Larchmont, NY
Today's pay: 625
On the books or off: Off
Method of payment: personal check
Disposition of payment: left in my cubby in the mudroom
Salary Adjustment: No paid time off, except for three weeks in August. Any other sick time is docked from my pay at $105 per day. I get Christmas, 4th of July, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving off. I sometimes get a half day on Christmas eve.
Length of time at current position: 14 months
Nanny experience: 10 years
Connecticut
Today's pay: $1325 ($1800 gross) ($46,800 salary - live out, one child 21 months, M-Th 7-7)
Pay period: 2 weeks
Method of payment: Check
Taxes on the books or off: On the books
Disposition of payment: Personal check handed to me at end of day
Adjustments to pay: Employer pays taxes; was originally at $1250 bi-weekly off the books and after a year had asked to go on the books in lieu of a raise (fully expecting the pay cut). Not only did they put me on the books but they pay my taxes in addition to a net raise which brought me up to $1325 take home.
Length of time at current position: Year and a half
Years of nanny experience: Six
On salary: 47,500 year (just received 5% raise as of today's pay)
Taxes: Yes
Method of payment: $1444.50 (net) direct deposit into bank account every 2 weeks
45-50 Hours per Week
Paid time off multiple times per year when they travel without me or have family visiting.
Two weeks paid vacation and paid federal holidays.
Ten paid sick days per year
Reimbursement for any expenditures (I keep receipts and a record of expenses and log miles driven in my car)Bonuses and thoughtful gifts for Christmas, birthday and Valentine's Day
Length of time at current position: 6 years
Larchmont, NY
Today's pay: 625
On the books or off: Off
Method of payment: personal check
Disposition of payment: left in my cubby in the mudroom
Salary Adjustment: No paid time off, except for three weeks in August. Any other sick time is docked from my pay at $105 per day. I get Christmas, 4th of July, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving off. I sometimes get a half day on Christmas eve.
Length of time at current position: 14 months
Nanny experience: 10 years
Connecticut
Today's pay: $1325 ($1800 gross) ($46,800 salary - live out, one child 21 months, M-Th 7-7)
Pay period: 2 weeks
Method of payment: Check
Taxes on the books or off: On the books
Disposition of payment: Personal check handed to me at end of day
Adjustments to pay: Employer pays taxes; was originally at $1250 bi-weekly off the books and after a year had asked to go on the books in lieu of a raise (fully expecting the pay cut). Not only did they put me on the books but they pay my taxes in addition to a net raise which brought me up to $1325 take home.
Length of time at current position: Year and a half
Years of nanny experience: Six
ISYN Kidspeak, #2
"Mama was very upset!"- Paris replied with wide eyes
"Oh dear! That's not good. But sometimes grown-ups feel upset too. Like when you
feel upset because you are missing dada."- Me
"Dada came home stinky"- Paris
"Oh! I bet mama needed a hug..."- Me
"Yeah..." -Paris
I would guess that father came home smelling of alcohol, hope it was not the
stench of another woman's perfume!
We are collecting more snippets and quotes from children and charges. Send your submission to isynblog@gmail.comisynblog@gmail.com.
Email isynblog@gmail.comisynblog@gmail.com.
Location/Venue:
Date/Time:
Description of the Nanny:
Description of the Child:
Explain Incident in as much detail as possible:
This Nanny Job Description Is 22 Pages Of Nightmare Fuel
Thursday
Reward Offered for Info on Wal-Mart Molestation Suspect
A $2,500 reward is being offered for information about a man who sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl at Wal-Mart in White Plains. New York State Crime Stoppers announced the reward Thursday.
The man allegedly stalked the girl at the Main Street store before luring her away from her parents and sexually assaulting her at 6:48 p.m. on April 20.
The man allegedly stalked the girl at the Main Street store before luring her away from her parents and sexually assaulting her at 6:48 p.m. on April 20.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the New York State Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-866-313-8477.
More Walmart Crime:
More Walmart Crime:
Suspect arrested in Walmart meth lab probe
Police: Two suspects get into shootout outside Oklahoma
Boise family at center of deadly Arizona Walmart brawl
SINGLE WHITE FEMALE ?
Have an experience to share? Email isynblog@gmail.com.
Palisades Mall in NJ
Wednesday
Insufficient Funds
ISYN Link of the Day
Vivian Maier
Vivian Maier was a mystery even to those who knew her. A secretive nanny in the wealthy suburbs of Chicago, she died in 2009 and would have been forgotten. But John Maloof, an amateur historian, uncovered thousands of negatives at a storage locker auction and changed history. Now, Vivian Maier is hailed as one of the greatest 20th Century photographers along with Diane Arbus Robert Frank, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Weegee.
Finding Vivian Maier - Official Movie Trailer
Vivian Maier was a mystery even to those who knew her. A secretive nanny in the wealthy suburbs of Chicago, she died in 2009 and would have been forgotten. But John Maloof, an amateur historian, uncovered thousands of negatives at a storage locker auction and changed history. Now, Vivian Maier is hailed as one of the greatest 20th Century photographers along with Diane Arbus Robert Frank, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Weegee.
Finding Vivian Maier - Official Movie Trailer
Suburban Gossip
I am a nanny in a tight neighborhood in a NYC suburb. I have been with this family for four years. My problem is this family on the next street over. They have fired several nannies since last summer. Each time, it is abrupt and without severance. The middle child has some issues that the family does not acknowledge. A case in point is that the middle child "accidentally" broke two of the family puppies legs. The rumor is that the child is ADHD and the mother snorts his Ritalin. I don't want to say more about the kid, but I could. Those who know him don't let him play with our children. I think this kid could potentially seriously hurt someone. I think the nannies who interview for this job should be warned but Im not about to stick my neck out. Should I do something or bud out?
Tuesday
Tomkins Square Park in NYC
CHILDREN: Two girls about 2 & 4. Abigail was the oldest one. The younger girl had red curly hair and brown eyes. The older girl had blonde hair and was wearing a "big bad wolf" sweatshirt. The little girl had on a yellow rain jacket.
INCIDENT: The nanny sat on the bench and texted. She barely interacted with the kids at all. The younger child needed help getting up and down the steps or on the swings. All the nanny did was yell at Abigail, "put your sister on the swing", "push her", "wait for her at the bottom of the slide". The four year old wasn't even able to be a four year old. The sad thing was there was a group of three girls who wanted to play with the four year old but the girl kept being pulled away by the nanny to care for the young child. The saddest thing was even when the nanny didn't tell her to do something, she would see her sister struggling or just sitting there and she would go to her and try to make her happy or engage her.
LOCATION: Tomkins Sq. Park, NYC
DATE: Monday, May 6. 1230 PM
Do you have a nanny sighting to share? Email isynjane@aol.com. Share this post on Facebook or "plus one" it on google to spread the word about this & all nanny sightings.
Why you didn't get hired, #1
I interviewed a nanny by phone twice before asking her to come to our home. When she came to our house, she smelled like ethnic food. I was sure she was the one until that. I couldn't handle that.
These are the nannies that didn't get my job:
-the nanny who arrived dressed like she was interning for Vogue. Cute and stylish, but not what I am looking for in a nanny.
-the nanny who was accompanied to our house by her boyfriend. I felt uncomfortable having to accommodate him while I interviewed her and he generally just gave me a strange vibe.
-the nanny who asked how much our apartment cost.
-the nanny who wore sweatpants
-the nanny who told me that she would be teaching my child Spanish
-the nanny who within five minutes of meeting our daughter brought out her cell phone and asked to take a picture.
I know this might sound shallow but I have specific requirements for my nanny and being a NYC mother, the ability to take my children out
in the stroller and just walk is one of them. I didn't hire the nanny who wore the custom orthotics and I didn't hire the nanny who wore flip flops and had thick green & yellow toenails.
Namedroppers! I don't care who you know or who your former charge took ballet with or who you interviewed with yesterday. It's elementary interviewing to focus on your potential employer.
This nanny seemed like the perfect nanny. She met me for an interview at a coffee shop near my Wall Street office. There was a lot of traffic through the coffee shop, largely a male presence. There was something about this nanny. She was attractive but had a very sexual energy. I picked up on the way the men would notice and respond to her. It wasn't a jealous type thing, I just couldn't envision sending my children out to lunch or a museum with her having witnessed the response she elicited from men.
What stands out for me in my lifetime of interviewing nannies is the nanny who made herself comfortable on our davenport and began to launch into stories of her horrible childhood. She shared these stories in relation to why she wouldn't do this or that to any child, but her experience made me very apprehensive.
I had an interview with a nanny with great references and a four year degree. I asked her what she had been doing for the past 14 months, there was a hole in her job chronology. She explained that she went through a rough period after her mother died, got addicted to heroin and did two stints in rehab. I applauded her honesty but I just couldn't see leaving my 14 month old child with her!!!
Tact is a big thing. I offer everyone who comes to our house tea, coffee or juice. This particular nanny asked if she could get 'a sandwich or some soup or something'.
I asked the nanny what she thought after we spoke for a half hour in our living room. The nanny said, "it seems good, but I think I would need to see the place first". I asked her what she wanted to see and she said, "the house where I will be working". And I say, "this is it." She leans in and says, "Mam, I need to see the basics of your house to see if your children have the tools required for me to be successful in this position." The comment pissed me off. I gave her a tour of the house. When we said goodbye, she told me, "I am pleased to see your children have books and no televisions in their room. I don't like the GI Joe toys and there is a lot of clutter." I'm pretty sure she said more. I didn't hire her. Just the thought of her annoys me as I type this.
I had taken to interviewing nannies at the park with my children. This was a great set up because it protected our home environment. The parks are often crowded so connecting with my target was not always easy. One afternoon I was distracted by a nanny wearing a stylish 2 piece velour track suit. She had so much cellulite, it almost looked like her trousers were packed with grapes. Having watched her from every angle on the playground, I just couldn't get past it. I know that probably makes me sound shallow.
I can tell you why I don't give most nannies the job. I interview by phone first. And then I have the Nanny come to our home. 8/10 times the nannies will bitch and moan about the commute. Dealbreaker!
Employers.... Do you want to share your story? Email isynjane@aol.com
Returning the wrong size nanny...
ISYN- Link of the Day
24 People Who Are Really Nailing This Parenting Thing
Something tells us that the children of all these parents are going to grow up to be just fine.
Something tells us that the children of all these parents are going to grow up to be just fine.
Monday
ISYN Vacation Diaries, #3
I met the family twice before the trip. The second time was on a Saturday when I just came to spend an hour playing with the children. They didn't pay me for my time, which was annoying but I didn't want to risk losing the gig, so I didn't say anything.
They asked me to sleep at their house the evening before departure to ensure we were all together and on time. I did. I arrived at 7, left my bags in the foyer, but for an overnight and offered my assistance. I ended up playing with the children, running to KOHLS with one child, returning, running to a 24 hour pharmacy later that night, picking up the living room, playroom and bedrooms of the children and cleaning up the kitchen. This was in spite of the fact that I did not eat that night at all. I stole a pack of cheezits and took it to my room. I was told we would be leaving the house at 510 so I should be ready by 500. At 430, the oldest child came in my room and said, "Mommy wants to know where you are". I finished getting dressed quickly and went to find the group. None of the children were ready and mom was standing there in this ridiculous fur robe with a cup of coffee looking at me like I was insane.
Cut to our flight to Costa Rica. We flew coach and all sat together, we had two rows. I ended up in one row with three children and the parents were in their row with no children. The children played, walked, roamed, cried, screamed and ate, non stop. I was getting this strange feeling in my stomach that I had never had before. I later came to recognize it as anxiety.
It took forever to get through the airport and in transportation to our house we were going to stay at. The kids refused to be buckled in. They were climbing all over me as we made a very long drive through the foreign terrain. The middle child was screaming for her regular nanny. I couldn't even look out the window. The kids had my head spinning. I was getting increasingly anxious because it was not looking good. One of the children took off her pull up and threw it at me. The father looked at me with a raised eyebrow. Then he said, "it's almost over."
I was told we would be staying in a private house. I wasn't expecting what we pulled up to. There was a six feet wall around the outside and an electric gate. When we drove in, it was absolute paradise. I could see the ocean sparkling in the background, some small buildings and a massive house full of windows. Once inside, we were greeted with the house staff. 7 people, including a butler, driver, housekeepers and cook. They introduced themselves. The mother looked at me and said, "lets get unpacked and get going". I set about separating the luggage and putting it in the correct rooms. The children were playing musical bedrooms. Staff followed me wherever I went. Whatever I started, they finished. The children were all unpacked and sitting in the kitchen eating lunch when I came out of my room. My room was on the ground floor next to the pool and it was the size of my apartment. It could not be accessed from the main house but only from the porch outside the main house. I went to help with lunch but found myself instead served. I was offered a pina colada. I looked at my employer and she said, "it's up to you, but the kids will have you in the pool and ocean all day..." I decided to pass for now.
I took the kids to the pool. One wanted to go to the beach which was about two hundred feet from the pool. I negotiated with the kids to stay at the pool for this amount of time and then go to the beach. One of the staff heard this and said something like, "I will set the chairs". Two staff hustled out to the beach and set up chaise lounges, a table, stacks of towels, beach buckets and toys and a tray of fresh fruits, cheeses under an umbrella. Over the next eleven days, it was clear to me my main role was to be the eyes on all of these kids in the water. It would have been awful if not for the staff and the fact that the parents understood their children were a handful. I was worried I wasn't doing enough the first days as I had no domestic responsibilities at all. I was served breakfast, lunch and dinner. Coffee was brought to my room every morning. The days were long. There were lots of screaming kids, temper tantrums and fighting. Children were overtired and then not tired. Bedtime was hard because the children were so amped up by eight or nine, having taken a nap around 3pm for an hour.
Starting the second night, I began to have a drink with my diner. And then another. This made bedtime much more doable because I felt energized and a kind of happy buzzed. I chased kids around the pool and up and down the beach applying sunblock and floaties. I had sand in every crevice of my body. Nobody got sunburned, except me!
The father told me on the third day, "if you can get the kids to stretch past taking a nap, I bet they'd go down earlier and you could have a little more time to yourself". I hesitated and asked, "do you think that would be okay with X, she asked me to give them a nap". He said, "You are keeping them happy and busy, so whatever works for you works for us".
I managed three days with no naps and one day when the children were all asleep by 710. The staff was always offering to help with the children or watch the children. The only time I was comfortable with that was when they were sleeping and then because of the detached set up of my accommodations. On the fourth day, the mother asked me if I would go for a run with her. We went running for the next five days in a row together, and good thing because the staff made us anything we wanted anytime of the day.
When I came back from our run the first day, the oldest kid was standing in h/h swimsuit looking at me annoyed. The child said, "Im hot and waiting to go swimming". I felt guilty and the mother said, "well good. After breakfast, X will take you swimming." I suggested I would skip breakfast and she looked at me like I was nuts. I sat down and she told me, "don't you dare rush. "Child" has movies and a tote full of toys to play with. Enjoy your breakfast."
I didn't talk to the parents much on the trip. But the interactions were pleasant and thoughtful. They went out for some boating adventures and dinners without us, but it made no difference. The children didn't want to go so they didn't cry. They stopped asking for their nanny. The staff would help get children dressed, changed, apply sunscreen, even come to me with a towel when I got out of the pool.
I will never ever be on a trip like that again. All my fun was child centered. I didn't do any adult activities, except running and a few quick swims in the Ocean on my own. What a taste of luxury. And so surprising because in retrospect, I think the employers intentionally didn't boast about what kind of vacation there would be. I didn't go shopping and we were in an isolated location, but one day the mother and father took the youngest and went shopping and came home with BAGS of stuff for me. A dress, a bathing suit, running goggles, t-shirts, a paper weight, etc.
The trip back wasn't as hectic because everyone was exhausted. I didn't care that the children were all in my row, on me and under me. I didn't care that the people in front of us kept pointedly turning their heads every time a seat was kicked. I had no more anxious feelings. When we got to the house, we were a bit early because there was a car coming for me but it wasn't due for about forty minutes. I offered to help with the kids. I got them set up with games and started unpacking. All of their stuff had been expertly repacked by the staff. The children all hugged me when I left. The father handed me an envelope and thanked me and said, "We had a great time, I hope you did do". I said, "are you kidding? Thank you. That was AMAZING! I almost feel bad taking pay!" The mother said, "Take the pay, and take our call, because we'd love to have you travel with us again."
I was invited to go to Hawaii with them two months ago but could not due to a previous commitment. The family has a beach house in Maine and the mother asked me if I would be available to go with them and she listed multiple dates. It doesn't sound as luxurious, but it still seems pretty bitchen. P.S. the envelope contained a check for $2,000. I'm counting the days until June 25th when we will go to Maine for the first of what I hope to be four trips I will make with them through Labor Day.
More to come?
Share your travel nanny experience with I Saw Your Nanny. Email isynblog@gmail.com.
Nannies, Explain Yourselves!
I just interviewed a dozen nannies for our position which we advertised at salary DOE. I was prepared to pay about 900 per week. I was prepared to pay our portion of SS and taxes. I called my first pick and offered her the job. I offered her the salary of $900. She acted enthusiastic on the phone and said she would need to call me back because she was enroute to another interview. She emailed me later and said she would love to work for our family but she needed to net $900. A few nannies made it clear they needed to NET a certain amount. Some of these amounts were less than $900 but the nannies weren't among my top choices. I went with my second choice who had the highest salary requirement of $1,000 per week. (She would pay her share of the taxes). She also asked for health insurance after three months of service. I don't feel like I have any control of this situation!
My nanny brought us a letter from her tax preparer saying she needed to be legally employed on the books effective immediately. And that she would need the entire year of 2013 on the books. Right now, we pay her $600 cash off the books. We are not wealthy people. Having to pay taxes on this salary would really mean we cannot pay her the full $600. How do address this without losing our nanny?
Last year, we paid our nanny on the books and "grossed up" her salary. She was given a $480 tax refund (based of what we paid in for her). She put the check in an envelope with a note saying, "I don't think it would be fair for me to keep this". We have a great nanny, we don't want to lose her. We let her keep it, right?
Sunday
ISYN Link of the Day
FunBrain
Lots of great math and reading games that are truly fun for the children. No annoying ads. Great graphics and easy for children to use!
Lots of great math and reading games that are truly fun for the children. No annoying ads. Great graphics and easy for children to use!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)