Part Time Nanny...are we being unreasonable

[Anonymous]

We’ve had several college age part time babysitters (20ish hours a week).

Your standards are a bit too high, though I appreciate why the cancellations are annoying. I find that a big part of what college students get from the job is a feeling that our house is their “home away from home” which many really need when they are away from home for the first time (I realize this is not the case for you now because of covid and DL). They are just learning what it means to be an employee.

I think it helps to communicate clearly and kindly that you’d like her to do xyz. If you fire her you’d have to replace her, and that position is really hard to fill right now. And as you said she might not even need the money. Our last sitter literally saved all that we paid her to buy an incredibly expensive designer bag. It was her fun money. She wouldn’t have kept the job if I’d been a PITA.

[Anonymous]

$21 is pretty good for a babysitting job, which is what this “nanny” is doing. She sounds nice but honestly she does sound like a flaky college kid. If you personally like her try having a conversation with her to see if that helps.

[Anonymous]

But she has to pay taxes on the 21 dollars, and many many sitters get paid 15-20+ either under the table or tax free (odd jobs).

It’s not a competitive pay.

[Anonymous]

OP is going to have a hard time finding someone else to work only 5-6 hours a day (vs. full time) and who is ok with only being paid for "hours worked" instead of guaranteed hours.

If OP really wants and needs someone professional and reliable it might be worth it to hire a full time nanny (with guaranteed hours, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days, contribution towards health insurance, etc.) It will cost a lot more.

But right now, OP is going to McDonald's and complaining it's not as good as Ruth's Chris.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But she has to pay taxes on the 21 dollars, and many many sitters get paid 15-20+ either under the table or tax free (odd jobs).

It’s not a competitive pay.

I did not consider the taxes but even if she does have to pay taxes she still at $15 which is well above minimum wage for babysitting job. The way OP describes it she is not performing the duties of a nanny but more of a babysitter. So in my opinion $15 is still competitive for a babysitting job/ pt work.

Either way, even if she was making minimum-wage she should still be performing her job duties. She sounds nice enough so maybe a conversation is all that she needs to get back into gear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will have a very hard time finding a part time nanny during a pandemic. Even in normal times it’s hard to find part timers. Many leave for a full time gig unless they are in college. College kids require a lot of flexibility because their schedule changes. I would place the ad now and see what you get in responses.

Regarding the chores just explain to her you need to start teaching your daughter to clean up stuff and she needs to ‘help’ by doing it with her. This means carrying her utensils to the sink, and wiping up after every meal. In the playroom every toy is put away in its place by your daughter (with nanny’s help) before the next toy comes out.

Brilliant solution. OP don't overlook this option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But she has to pay taxes on the 21 dollars, and many many sitters get paid 15-20+ either under the table or tax free (odd jobs).

It’s not a competitive pay.

I did not consider the taxes but even if she does have to pay taxes she still at $15 which is well above minimum wage for babysitting job. The way OP describes it she is not performing the duties of a nanny but more of a babysitter. So in my opinion $15 is still competitive for a babysitting job/ pt work.

Either way, even if she was making minimum-wage she should still be performing her job duties. She sounds nice enough so maybe a conversation is all that she needs to get back into gear.

$15 isn’t competitive for a babysitting gig. That’s what I paid 10 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But she has to pay taxes on the 21 dollars, and many many sitters get paid 15-20+ either under the table or tax free (odd jobs).

It’s not a competitive pay.

I did not consider the taxes but even if she does have to pay taxes she still at $15 which is well above minimum wage for babysitting job. The way OP describes it she is not performing the duties of a nanny but more of a babysitter. So in my opinion $15 is still competitive for a babysitting job/ pt work.

Either way, even if she was making minimum-wage she should still be performing her job duties. She sounds nice enough so maybe a conversation is all that she needs to get back into gear.

$15 isn’t competitive for a babysitting gig. That’s what I paid 10 years ago.

I stand corrected. I was comparing rates to just a PT job rate, not necessarily just babysitting rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The overnights sound more like the nanny is crashing at OPs house. I would not assume that the nanny is on duty overnight with the parent home. Why should the nanny be paid to sleep at OPs house? It sounds like she could go home to her bed at her parents house but chooses not to on occasion.

I am the OP and the nanny crashing at someone's house was not my thread...but more of a tag on. My nanny is at our home five hours a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is going to have a hard time finding someone else to work only 5-6 hours a day (vs. full time) and who is ok with only being paid for "hours worked" instead of guaranteed hours.

If OP really wants and needs someone professional and reliable it might be worth it to hire a full time nanny (with guaranteed hours, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days, contribution towards health insurance, etc.) It will cost a lot more.

But right now, OP is going to McDonald's and complaining it's not as good as Ruth's Chris.

Clearly you have bad taste if you think Ruth's Chris is a good steak house.

[Anonymous]

OP, I’m not understanding why the time your sitter cleans up lunch is an issue. The stroller thing is easily addressed, as is the playroom/toy clean up. Not showing up is more of an issue, but still easy to address. Try the poop sandwich method.

“MyKayla, I wanted to check in with you and talk about how things are going. We really like how much time you are spending directly engaging with our child. There are a few things we need you to improve on. As you know, we count on you to be here every shift so that we can do our jobs. You’ve called out a few times recently, so let’s talk about setting up a sick day policy. .... Additionally, please be sure to bring the stroller in daily before you leave. I also depend on you to clean up toys before leaving as well. I know we can count on you to not only keep caring for our child so well, but also to take care of the daily tasks we need from you.”

[Anonymous]

She may not like being your Nanny for whatever reason.
She may not really need the $$, is realizing it is more trouble than it is worth, may have a new boyfriend, etc.

She may not want the guilt of quitting on you & likely is hoping you fire her.

You can always discuss how important it is for her to pick up the toys and clean up and wash the dishes used during her shift.
But if you feel that she is not interested in the position overall than it may be best for you to simply find another nanny.

[Anonymous]

To me, it sounds like she is more of a regular babysitter than a nanny. I had a similar job right after college where I babysat every day for one child and was paid per hour without any benefits. Honestly, maybe I’m just really out of touch but $21/hour plus lunch seems reasonable. I got paid $12/hour in NYC about 15 years ago. And that family never so much as offered me anything to eat even if I, for some reason, put in like a 10 hour day. (They were rich by the way so the more I think about it the more underpaid I was)!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She may not like being your Nanny for whatever reason.
She may not really need the $$, is realizing it is more trouble than it is worth, may have a new boyfriend, etc.

She may not want the guilt of quitting on you & likely is hoping you fire her.

You can always discuss how important it is for her to pick up the toys and clean up and wash the dishes used during her shift.
But if you feel that she is not interested in the position overall than it may be best for you to simply find another nanny.

Is a new bf a reason to start being bad at your job?