Nanny asks to work fewer hours than agreed 3 days into starting out

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you give it a week or so and then ask how that evening commute is going; if the conversation leads back to her initial request, clarify if it is for one month. If so, make it work. If after that one month she still wants to keep it that way and that bothers you, find another nanny

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don’t you give it a week or so and then ask how that evening commute is going; if the conversation leads back to her initial request, clarify if it is for one month. If so, make it work. If after that one month she still wants to keep it that way and that bothers you, find another nanny

Yes, I think that is what we will do.

She had also negotiated for a weekly rate. We wanted to pay hourly but she asked for a set amount each week, which we provided.

Can we reduce that amount if she will work fewer hours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don’t you give it a week or so and then ask how that evening commute is going; if the conversation leads back to her initial request, clarify if it is for one month. If so, make it work. If after that one month she still wants to keep it that way and that bothers you, find another nanny

Yes, I think that is what we will do.

She had also negotiated for a weekly rate. We wanted to pay hourly but she asked for a set amount each week, which we provided.

Can we reduce that amount if she will work fewer hours?

OMG, get rid of her now!!!

[Anonymous]

I would start looking now. Not a good fit.

[Anonymous]

I think some of the responses here calling her extremely unprofessional and telling you to shit can her ASAP are way over the top.

First, it’s one thing to know something in the abstract versus experiencing it in actuality. She knew the commute time in the abstract, and said it was no problem in the interview. Then she experienced it in the actual fact and it’s much worse than she expected.

There is nothing unprofessional about that, or about asking if the hours could be negotiated. She’s not throwing a tantrum or shirking her job because you said no. It’s not fair to immediately assume she will quit because of this, either. However, if she does determine that the commute is too much to deal with balanced against the benefits of the job, that’s just something that happens and it happens with all types of jobs. DC has a brutal commute time whether public transport or private vehicle, one of the worst in the country as I’m sure you know.

If you like her and she’s good with your baby then I would do what you can to accommodate. You said DH is 9-6 but what about you, are your hours flexible enough that you could switch up to accommodate her earlier arrival and departure?

It’s my understanding that right now it’s a nanny’s market, so consider that in deciding how quickly you want to jettison this person who you presumably just spent some time and effort to find.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think some of the responses here calling her extremely unprofessional and telling you to shit can her ASAP are way over the top.

First, it’s one thing to know something in the abstract versus experiencing it in actuality. She knew the commute time in the abstract, and said it was no problem in the interview. Then she experienced it in the actual fact and it’s much worse than she expected.

There is nothing unprofessional about that, or about asking if the hours could be negotiated. She’s not throwing a tantrum or shirking her job because you said no. It’s not fair to immediately assume she will quit because of this, either. However, if she does determine that the commute is too much to deal with balanced against the benefits of the job, that’s just something that happens and it happens with all types of jobs. DC has a brutal commute time whether public transport or private vehicle, one of the worst in the country as I’m sure you know.

If you like her and she’s good with your baby then I would do what you can to accommodate. You said DH is 9-6 but what about you, are your hours flexible enough that you could switch up to accommodate her earlier arrival and departure?

It’s my understanding that right now it’s a nanny’s market, so consider that in deciding how quickly you want to jettison this person who you presumably just spent some time and effort to find.

Agree with poster above. She was assertive about her needs but not unprofessional.

I would agree that you can try to meet in the middle. Wait a few days, ask her about her commute, and if she brings it up again, see if she can do 830-530, before jumping to further conclusions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think some of the responses here calling her extremely unprofessional and telling you to shit can her ASAP are way over the top.

First, it’s one thing to know something in the abstract versus experiencing it in actuality. She knew the commute time in the abstract, and said it was no problem in the interview. Then she experienced it in the actual fact and it’s much worse than she expected.

There is nothing unprofessional about that, or about asking if the hours could be negotiated. She’s not throwing a tantrum or shirking her job because you said no. It’s not fair to immediately assume she will quit because of this, either. However, if she does determine that the commute is too much to deal with balanced against the benefits of the job, that’s just something that happens and it happens with all types of jobs. DC has a brutal commute time whether public transport or private vehicle, one of the worst in the country as I’m sure you know.

If you like her and she’s good with your baby then I would do what you can to accommodate. You said DH is 9-6 but what about you, are your hours flexible enough that you could switch up to accommodate her earlier arrival and departure?

It’s my understanding that right now it’s a nanny’s market, so consider that in deciding how quickly you want to jettison this person who you presumably just spent some time and effort to find.

I'd start looking now, and just try to make it work with her until you find someone else you like. It IS unprofessional to ask to change the terms of the job you agreed to three days in. If someone is unhappy that soon into a job, and it really is a nanny's market, then I'd assume its just a matter of time before she leaves for someone closer to her home. Better to solve the problem now.

[Anonymous]

Does she have kids? Maybe the later hour is messing with her own childcare arrangements. 9 hours is a long day, especially with both of you working from home. I’d try to accommodate her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she have kids? Maybe the later hour is messing with her own childcare arrangements. 9 hours is a long day, especially with both of you working from home. I’d try to accommodate her.

No kids.

[Anonymous]

Are you paying her an appropriate weekly rate - O/T for the hours worked beyond 40?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'd start looking now, and just try to make it work with her until you find someone else you like. It IS unprofessional to ask to change the terms of the job you agreed to three days in. If someone is unhappy that soon into a job, and it really is a nanny's market, then I'd assume its just a matter of time before she leaves for someone closer to her home. Better to solve the problem now.

This. She may be professional and may have been genuinely surprised by the length of the commute, but I assure you, she is already looking for something closer.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here.

1. Asking for shorter hours in the first week is a red flag. She’s looking for a closer job.

OR

2. You negotiated a weekly rate. She sees an opportunity to get the same rate with less work.

Either way, it’s unprofessional and you need to move on.

[Anonymous]

I hope you will decrease her compensation if you do allow her to reduce her hours.

[Anonymous]

Be prepared. Right now your nanny is looking for another job with a shorter commute and will leave you high and dry since she doesn’t need you as a reference.

[Anonymous]

If she’s working fewer hours than agreed on then her compensation should adjust accordingly. Otherwise she’s just taking advantage.